A new report has identified significant biases in medical tools and devices, detrimentally affecting minority ethnic groups, women, and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Concerns include inaccurate pulse oximeter readings for black and minority ethnic individuals, potential AI discrimination in diagnosing cardiac issues in women, and biases linked to socioeconomic status.

The report points out flawed polygenic risk scores and race-based adjustments in spirometer measurements, which could perpetuate healthcare disparities.

An urgent call is made for incorporating an equity perspective in the development, testing, and entire lifecycle of medical devices to ensure effectiveness across all ethnicities.

The findings highlight a systemic lack of diversity in health research and a need for robust equity considerations to prevent racial bias in healthcare interventions.

The NHS Race and Health Observatory has endorsed the report's findings, underscoring the necessity for medical devices to be equally reliable and effective for all communities.