Medical gaslighting refers to any experience where a patient’s concerns are dismissed by a medical professional without proper examination.
Jenneh Rishe, a 35-year-old who is an avid runner, has experienced it herself. When she started noticing that her daily runs were getting increasingly difficult, Rishe grew concerned.
She had been diagnosed with two congenital heart conditions that doctors told her would not affect her daily activity several years ago, but was experiencing immense chest pain.
Eventually, Rishe found a highly recommended cardiologist and flew out to see him. By then, she was using a wheelchair because she was constantly fainting. However, the cardiologist dismissed her concerns, “People who have these heart conditions aren’t this sick.”
Despite this, Rishe felt unsatisfied with the response and chose to seek out a second opinion. It was then that she discovered her arteries were spasming from a lack of oxygen. “I was basically having mini-heart attacks, whenever I was having chest pain,” Rishe says.
Rishe is not alone, as many have experienced medical gaslighting to some degree. Some common signs of gaslighting include constant interruptions, downplaying symptoms, and a refusal to order tests or lab work to investigate a potential diagnosis.
When faced with gaslighting, Dr. Nicole Mitchell, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, has several suggestions.
With the average primary care exam being less than 20 minutes, preparing detailed notes on your symptoms before the appointment can help you get to the point faster. In addition, asking specific questions will give you a better idea of what’s happening and help you identify your next steps.
Nevertheless, if you’re still feeling ignored, you have other options.
Switching providers or seeking other opinions is an obvious choice, however it may be difficult to find suitable medical professionals quickly. Therefore, joining a support group that could provide useful information or resources is also a good idea. If you feel as though your medical provider isn’t listening or is being unprofessional, you can also try to reframe the conversation, or contact their supervisor.
Overall, “Any instances of abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, delaying diagnoses…are reportable events that providers need to know about,” Dr. Mitchell states. “Doctors need to be held accountable.”
Sources:
– https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/well/mind/medical-gaslighting.html
– https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/well/live/gaslighting-doctors-patients-health.html
Jenneh Rishe, a 35-year-old who is an avid runner, has experienced it herself. When she started noticing that her daily runs were getting increasingly difficult, Rishe grew concerned.
She had been diagnosed with two congenital heart conditions that doctors told her would not affect her daily activity several years ago, but was experiencing immense chest pain.
Eventually, Rishe found a highly recommended cardiologist and flew out to see him. By then, she was using a wheelchair because she was constantly fainting. However, the cardiologist dismissed her concerns, “People who have these heart conditions aren’t this sick.”
Despite this, Rishe felt unsatisfied with the response and chose to seek out a second opinion. It was then that she discovered her arteries were spasming from a lack of oxygen. “I was basically having mini-heart attacks, whenever I was having chest pain,” Rishe says.
Rishe is not alone, as many have experienced medical gaslighting to some degree. Some common signs of gaslighting include constant interruptions, downplaying symptoms, and a refusal to order tests or lab work to investigate a potential diagnosis.
When faced with gaslighting, Dr. Nicole Mitchell, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, has several suggestions.
With the average primary care exam being less than 20 minutes, preparing detailed notes on your symptoms before the appointment can help you get to the point faster. In addition, asking specific questions will give you a better idea of what’s happening and help you identify your next steps.
Nevertheless, if you’re still feeling ignored, you have other options.
Switching providers or seeking other opinions is an obvious choice, however it may be difficult to find suitable medical professionals quickly. Therefore, joining a support group that could provide useful information or resources is also a good idea. If you feel as though your medical provider isn’t listening or is being unprofessional, you can also try to reframe the conversation, or contact their supervisor.
Overall, “Any instances of abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, delaying diagnoses…are reportable events that providers need to know about,” Dr. Mitchell states. “Doctors need to be held accountable.”
Sources:
– https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/well/mind/medical-gaslighting.html
– https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/well/live/gaslighting-doctors-patients-health.html
