Medical Gaslighting Is Our Reality
Medical gaslighting starts with your physician downplaying your symptoms and concerns. When your doctor dismisses or criticizes you, that’s gaslighting. We have been yelling at the tops of our lungs that this is our reality. Studies show female patients and people of color are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed by medical providers. Back in 1977, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that scientists exclude women of childbearing years from early clinical drug trials.
Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men in a variety of situations. For example, men seem to face shorter waiting room times than women. Women are diagnosed with cancer and heart disease at a slower rate and their pain is ignored. Did you know that the majority of U.S. hospitals are nonprofits? This tax-exempt status requires them to provide more community-based health programs. But we all know that if someone doesn’t have good insurance, the quality of care kind of sucks.
