Medical gaslighting is a process by which a patient’s complaint is either ignored, or dismissed as being in the patient’s mind or due to stress, even when that is not the case. This leads to severe health outcomes, mainly attributed to interference with diagnostic and therapeutic measures, as well as considerable psychological impact. It is therefore important for patients, especially women and people of color to understand how to identify and resist medical gaslighting.
The most vulnerable people can experience medical gaslighting because of prejudices and discrimination based on their identity. Women and people of color are especially vulnerable.
Female symptoms are sometimes dismissed as mental health problems instead of being considered. Studies indicate that whenever women present with signs of the disease, their complaints are often dismissed as stress or anxiety. This may result in late diagnosis of severe diseases, hence delaying appropriate management.
For instance, it has been established that women who complained of symptoms that are associated with men are twice as likely to be diagnosed as mentally ill than men. Another factor that contribute to this is that women present themselves to the hospital at an advanced stage of the disease than men hence worsening their prognosis. It also reveals that woman who come to the emergency room with complaints of abdominal pain are administered with analgesics slower as compared to the male patients.
Medical gaslighting affects people of color, particularly Blacks, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Latinxs more frequently. Studies have found that their symptoms are less likely to be diagnosed, or diagnosed inaccurately. For example, Black patients are assumed to tolerate pain more than other patients and may be administered minor doses of analgesics.
It was also found in the study of the emergency room records that blacks, Asians, pacific islanders, and Latinos were more likely to be misdiagnosed for their stroke symptoms. Furthermore, black individuals receive less quality outpatient care than whites, primarily due to prejudice and discrimination.
Implicit bias means the hidden attitudes or stereotypes we have that influence how we understand and act. In healthcare, these biases can lead to unfair treatment based on a patient’s gender, race, or other factors.
An example is disease research funding, where the diseases that mostly affect women in the United States have received less funding than diseases that affect men. This results in a lack of information concerning the various illnesses that affect women.
Additionally, studies show that medical students and doctors may have biases about pain tolerance based on race. For instance, Black patients might not receive as much pain relief as white patients because of these hidden biases.
This often results in decisions being made hastily, as doctors usually have very little time with each of their clients. That is why, when a doctor wants to be quick, he or she might not go through a list of hypotheses, but use prejudices instead.
At other times, medical education does not provide enough information about diseases that predominantly affect women or people of color. For this reason, doctors might overlook or inaccurately diagnose the symptoms of such patients.
Due to the nature of their jobs, most healthcare providers spend many hours at work and face high levels of stress that cause burnout. When doctors are tired they might not pay much attention or give the best attention to patients, hence they may lead to medical gaslighting by taking shortcuts.
The awareness of what medical gaslighting is the first step in eradicating the problem. Common indicators include:
This occurs when doctors either dismiss or fail to pay attention to a patient’s complaints. For instance, if you are constantly in pain, and a health practitioner accuses you of exaggerating by saying that it is just stress without a thorough assessment of the situation, then this is gaslighting.
Things like doctors constantly interrupting you, refusing to carry out a meaningful conversation with you, or not showing any interest in the talks you holding, are perceived as poor communication. For example, if a doctor interrupts you before you can fully describe the symptoms of an illness, then this is a sign of gaslighting.
Sometimes when doctors laugh at or dismiss these concerns, it is an insult. If a healthcare provider makes dismissive comments or seems to ‘mock’ your concern, it demeans you and makes you feel like a fool.
Emotional insensitivity is when a doctor fails to appreciate your suffering or how you feel. When a doctor appears to be unmoved when you are in pain or does not acknowledge your pain, this is a sign of gaslighting.
Sometimes, doctors might find a way of linking your symptoms to some of your behaviors or actions without any regard for other factors. For example, if a doctor advises you that you are a victim of your dietary habits and lifestyle without examining you, this can fall under the gaslighting category.
This occurs when doctors quickly associate your physical signs with mental disorders without conducting routine examinations. If a doctor tends to explain all your symptoms as stress or other psychological issues without considering other possibilities, this might be medical gaslighting.
Medical gaslighting may impact patients physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Doctors themselves can also contribute to delayed diagnosis by dismissive attitudes towards certain complaints. Patients may be subjected to various tests and attend numerous clinics before they are given the right information. These delays can worsen their condition, causing more pain and suffering. At its worst, it could go up to potentially lethal levels.
For example, female patients with TBI may have lower ICU admission rates than male counterparts with the same diagnosis. This can lead to worse health of women with moderate and severe TBI’s than men.
Medical gaslighting also affects a person’s emotions and mental health in a very significant manner. Patients might start doubting their own experiences and feel invalidated. This results in anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Such patients’ desire to get the correct diagnosis constantly and make them anxious about seeking medical attention in the future puts their health in a dangerous position.
The term “medical gaslighting” points out important problems in healthcare. It details cases when the patients find their signs are ignored. However, some people are more sensitive to this term because it means that doctors are being abusive or rude on purpose, which might not be true.
In many cases, the problem lies in the healthcare system as a whole. Some doctors may lack time and resources, which places them under pressure to rely on bias. For this, the following changes need to be made in the system. This means ensuring that doctors are well-trained and equipped to provide their patients with accurate diagnosis and treatment.
A 40-year-old graphic designer, Emma, complained of constant pain and swelling in her hands and knees. Despite her having had the signs for several months, most doctors attributed her condition to aging or work stress. This young woman one doctor told her that, it was because she was growing older, finally after fighting for some time she got an opportunity to see a specialist and the doctor told her that she had rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the long interval between the visits, the degradation of the joints was worse and perhaps could have been prevented.
Marcus, a 28-year-old chef, was experiencing recurrent abdominal complaints such as pain and diarrhea. The doctors he consulted offered such lame excuses as food allergies or stress. One even told him that his ailments were ‘in his head.’ Marcus conducted his research and with the support of his family saw a specialist who diagnosed him with celiac disease. The delay implied that Marcus experienced pain and illness that would have been preventable had he received timely and correct medical attention.
Until big changes are made in the healthcare system, there are steps you can take to avoid medical gaslighting and make sure you get the care you need:
Everyone should have a doctor which he or she can trust and with whom the patient feels at ease. If your present doctor fails to acknowledge your complaints, search for another one who will value and acknowledge you.
It can be very useful if there is someone, for example, a friend or a family member to accompany you to appointments. They can listen to you, assist in expounding on your symptoms, ask questions, and recount information discussed during the visit.
Create a checklist of questions to ask, your symptoms, and any questions or concerns that you may have before the appointment. Writing down your signs and symptoms can also provide your doctor with valuable information and any changes in your condition.
If you feel that your concerns are not considered, do not wait and see another doctor. Having an opinion from another doctor or a person who has ever treated a similar disease brings a different view.
Patient advocates may assist you in handling any problems that you may have with your healthcare service provider. Almost every hospital has an ombudsman service, which can help you with issues you may face while going through the healthcare process.
If you ever feel that you were mistreated, you can report to the hospital or any medical board of your choice. In severe circumstances, consider filing a medical malpractice or negligence case.
It’s important to know what you’re entitled to as a patient. You have the right to understand your diagnosis, treatment options, and the risks and benefits of those options. You also have the right to refuse treatment and to get a second opinion if needed.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you don’t understand something or feel your concerns aren’t being heard. Clarifying things can help you fully grasp your health situation and the suggested treatments.
Document information about your symptoms, medications and physician visits. This information can be very useful in case you need a second opinion or decide to complain later.
To be able to discuss your condition more effectively with your doctor, find out more about your symptoms and possible diseases. Although you should not be diagnosing yourself, being more informed makes you ask the right questions and seek proper medical attention.
The experience of medical gaslighting is a significant issue that can harm patients. This is because once a patient understands how to identify it, they are better placed to fight for their health and obtain the correct care. The solution to medical gaslighting and ensuring that all patients receive equal treatment lies in reforming the healthcare system. Until these changes happen, patients should stay alert and take charge of their health care.