地位低下、处境艰难的人群disadvantaged groups(plural)

• 对社会上的弱势群体的权利保护

  protect the rights of vulnerable groups in society

• 病人由现在的弱势群体变成如消费者一样有能力说“不”的买方。

  Patients have gone from being a disadvantaged group to buyers that have the power to say "no" like other consumers.