Renowned writer and public speaker Wajahat Ali recently took to Twitter to share his dismay over the attitudes of racist patients toward Asian American doctors.

As a medical professional in Washington, Ali’s wife, Sarah Kureshi, has witnessed prejudice inside American hospitals amid the COVID-19 scare.

“My wife, a doctor, said some patients are refusing to see Asian American doctors due to #coronavirus. People, curb your fear & racism. It won’t help you or the country. Plus, you will be behaving like an ignorant a-hole. The virus, unlike us, doesn’t discriminate,” Ali wrote.

My wife, a doctor, said some patients are refusing to see Asian American doctors due to #coronavirus. People, curb your fear & racism. It won’t help you or the country. Plus, you will be behaving like an ignorant a-hole. The virus, unlike us, doesn’t discriminate. — Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 10, 2020

Incidents of racial discrimination towards Asians in different parts of the world have become increasingly frequent since the COVID-19 outbreak made headlines earlier this year. Now, even medical professionals who are tasked with saving lives are not immune to such attacks.

Naturally, some Twitter users were aghast over the racist incidents:

Good lord what is wrong with people! It’s like they go out of their way to make this situation as bad as possible in as many ways as possible! I am sorry your wife is experiencing this. Tell her thank you for her incredible and brave work for me. — Trinity (@Trinitydraco1) March 10, 2020

I don’t even know how people come to the conclusion that you can’t see an American Asian doctor because of this virus it literally makes no sense SMH. Zero logic — Bellona (@BellonaLupum) March 10, 2020

Meanwhile, other commenters shared similar instances of racism towards doctors:

In my former life as an EM MD, it happened a few times that a patient (usually white and older) would look at me askance and say: “You have a Jewish name. You Jewish? I’m not having a Jew Doctor!”

Stupidity, ignorance and bigotry are eternal. — Mona Sigal M.D.🆘 (@MonaSigal) March 10, 2020

I have 3 Asian colleagues in the ED it’s happening here too. People are scared and stupid, especially in Florida. — Fiona Hill’s Cat (@FionaHillsCat1) March 11, 2020

Feature Image via Wajahat Ali, Getty