August 18, 2008 Study reveals age discrimination among medical personnel Play video

(NECN/ABC) - A troubling new study tonight researchers document systematic age discrimination on the part of emergency medical personnel. Their study finds ambulances are more likely to transport young patients to top trauma centers. Roughly HALF of senior trauma patients are steered away from the best medical care.

Studies show that seniors in good health have essentially the same odds of recovery as younger trauma patients - as long as they get the same treatment. But new research from Johns Hopkins University finds that many elderly trauma patients never make it to the best medical centers.

Doctors analyzed 10 years worth of ambulance data from Maryland and found evidence of unconscious age bias by emergency medical staff.

Fully HALF of patients over 65 were NOT treated at designated trauma centers, compared to 18 percent of YOUNGER patients. Researchers found that the odds of being transported to a top trauma center dropped first at age 50 and then declined further when the patient was 70 or older.

Emergency responders may subconsciously opt for more aggressive care for younger patients, researchers say. Also, EMTs often lack knowledge on the best treatment protocols for seniors .

But the EMTs say they are only part of the problem, that the top trauma centers are often less than welcoming when the ambulance arrives with an elderly patient.