June 29, 2001

'Racial Profiling' in Medicine

To the Editor:

Individual differences in drug metabolism and efficacy depend upon genetic characteristics that reflect ethnic and "racial" features ("Shades of Doubt and Fears of Bias in the Doctor's Office," May 25). The rates at which one metabolizes, activates, excretes, or otherwise disposes of drugs are affected by enzymes and functional characteristics of organs that reflect one's genetic heritage. It is not possible to accurately predict how an individual will handle a drug on

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