Medical gaslighting is a real and serious issue in healthcare. It occurs when medical professionals downplay or dismiss a patient’s symptoms, leading to inadequate care. While this may be a common experience, women and people of color are two groups who disproportionately bear the brunt of misdiagnosis.
An overview of the disparity in health care
Misdiagnosis occurs when a health care professional inaccurately identifies a patient’s condition or symptom. A study reveals that compared to white men, women and racial and ethnic minorities are 20% to 30% more likely to fall victim to misdiagnosis. This disparity can result in delayed care, worsening symptoms, and in some cases, death.
Among the most misdiagnosed health conditions for these groups include:
- Heart diseases
- Auto immune diseases
- Sleep apnea
- Cancers
- Psychiatric conditions
Despite health care practitioners to provide equal treatment to all, implicit bias, lack of research, and limited time and experience can contribute to this problem.
The heightened importance of advocating for one’s health
Knowing this issue exists is a good first step to help patients avoid life-changing suffering due to someone else’s mistakes. What follows is just as important. Patients should be an active participant of their treatment plan, ask questions and seek second or even third opinions if something feels amiss.
For patients who believe they or a loved one has experienced harm due medical malpractice, exploring legal avenues may provide a path to justice and compensation. By holding those responsible for medical mistakes accountable, patients can contribute to a future where everyone receives the high-quality care they deserve.
