Many people have experienced their medical concerns being dismissed by doctors, a practice now referred to as ‘medical gaslighting’.
Several reports also show that people of color, older patients and L.G.B.T.Q. people have been especially affected by this problem. Studies also show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men.
Christina, a patient who lives in Maine, said that she has been ignored by her providers and that they often blamed her being overweight for most of her concerns.
She also reported that one time, after she had fallen off of her bike and her elbow was still hurting, the doctors just said her pain was a result of her weight. Later she took an x-ray and found that her bone had been chipped.
“Gaslighting is real; it happens all the time. Patients — and especially women — need to be aware of it,” said Dr. Jennifer H. Mieres, a professor of cardiology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine.
A study from 2006 and 2007 found that about 12 million adults in the U.S were misdiagnosed annually and that a large amount of those misdiagnoses could be dangerous or life-threatening.
Some signs of medical gaslighting include your provider downplaying and not discussing your symptoms, or not doing tests or imaging to confirm a diagnosis.
If you feel you are being ignored by your provider, medical professionals recommend that you switch to another provider.
Sources:
Several reports also show that people of color, older patients and L.G.B.T.Q. people have been especially affected by this problem. Studies also show that women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men.
Christina, a patient who lives in Maine, said that she has been ignored by her providers and that they often blamed her being overweight for most of her concerns.
She also reported that one time, after she had fallen off of her bike and her elbow was still hurting, the doctors just said her pain was a result of her weight. Later she took an x-ray and found that her bone had been chipped.
“Gaslighting is real; it happens all the time. Patients — and especially women — need to be aware of it,” said Dr. Jennifer H. Mieres, a professor of cardiology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine.
A study from 2006 and 2007 found that about 12 million adults in the U.S were misdiagnosed annually and that a large amount of those misdiagnoses could be dangerous or life-threatening.
Some signs of medical gaslighting include your provider downplaying and not discussing your symptoms, or not doing tests or imaging to confirm a diagnosis.
If you feel you are being ignored by your provider, medical professionals recommend that you switch to another provider.
Sources:
