Darci Graves: A patient of privilege speaks up and asks the question: What if

Darci Graves gives a compelling talk about her experiences following an August 2013 breast cancer diagnosis. It was at that time she launched her blog, Educator as Patient, so that she could share her journey with breast cancer. There she writes about the various the facilitators and barriers to care she witnessed and experienced, including reflections on how her privilege influenced her ability to navigate the system. In this talk, she considers the “What if’s” of lacking privilege. What if an individual can’t get access to the screenings they need? What if they think that passivity is the best way to show deference? What if a cultural misstep derails an appointment? What if an individual can’t focus entirely on their recovery? What if that patient is alone and does not have a social network to support them? Then we will question our assumptions and recognize the privilege that comes with being part of the system. If one of us can get lost, confused, frustrated, denied or deterred, what happens to someone without the vocabulary, the credentials, the knowledge or the privilege?