Racial and sexual discrimination in the selection of students for London medical schools

Abstract

Analysis of the names of students from London medical schools taking their final examinations in June 1982, 1983 and 1984 has revealed that racial and sexual discrimination operate when students are selected for medical education. On the basis of name the ratios of European to African, Asian or Arabic students vary significantly between the two extreme schools (P less than 0.01), and for any school the proportion tends to be consistent from year to year. Differences also occur between the proportion of females at each school. Furthermore, the pattern of racial and sexual discrimination at each school shows a highly significant rank correlation (r = 0.77). The admission policies at the different London medical schools need to be reviewed.