ORCID
Araya Gautam: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3715-5028
Abstract
Representation of ethnic minorities among trial participants in the UK is poor. It is true that the need for diversity and inclusive language is important in research, but the practicality of making this a reality for patients from under-represented groups has not generally been the case. As a patient advocate, I have been a participant in clinical trial reviews and advisory boards during the past three years and have engaged in a national-level conversation about patient voice and equity. I draw connections between structured frameworks for patient and public involvement (PPI) in the UK and the more informal, community-based caregiving practices in Nepal. This article examines how, across different systems, exclusion creates a similar kind of invisibility for patients and what it means to be an advocate across borders.
Recommended Citation
Gautam A. The Voices I Never Heard: Reflections from a Public Health Advocate on Representation, Silence, and Struggle. Patient Experience Journal. 2026; 13(1):18-20. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2076.
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