Studies show female patients and people of color are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed by medical providers. Experts say: Keep asking questions.
...Research suggests that diagnostic errors occur in up to one out of every seven encounters between a doctor and patient, and that most of these mistakes are driven by the physician's lack of knowledge. Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men in a variety of situations.
Patients who have felt that their symptoms were inappropriately dismissed as minor or primarily psychological by doctors are using the term "medical gaslighting" to describe their experiences and sharing their stories on sites like Instagram. The term derives from a play called "Gaslight" about a husband's attempt to drive his wife insane. And many patients, particularly women and people of color, describe the search for accurate diagnosis and treatment as maddening.
"We know that women, and especially women of color, are often diagnosed and treated differently by doctors than men are, even when they have the same health conditions," said Karen Lutfey Spencer, a researcher who studies medical decision-making at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Studies have shown that compared with men, women face longer waits to be diagnosed with cancer and heart disease, are treated less aggressively for traumatic brain injury, and are less likely to be offered pain medications. People of color often receive poorer quality care, too; and doctors are more likely to describe Black patients as uncooperative or non-compliant, which research suggests can affect treatment quality... nyt
...Research suggests that diagnostic errors occur in up to one out of every seven encounters between a doctor and patient, and that most of these mistakes are driven by the physician's lack of knowledge. Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed than men in a variety of situations.
Patients who have felt that their symptoms were inappropriately dismissed as minor or primarily psychological by doctors are using the term "medical gaslighting" to describe their experiences and sharing their stories on sites like Instagram. The term derives from a play called "Gaslight" about a husband's attempt to drive his wife insane. And many patients, particularly women and people of color, describe the search for accurate diagnosis and treatment as maddening.
"We know that women, and especially women of color, are often diagnosed and treated differently by doctors than men are, even when they have the same health conditions," said Karen Lutfey Spencer, a researcher who studies medical decision-making at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Studies have shown that compared with men, women face longer waits to be diagnosed with cancer and heart disease, are treated less aggressively for traumatic brain injury, and are less likely to be offered pain medications. People of color often receive poorer quality care, too; and doctors are more likely to describe Black patients as uncooperative or non-compliant, which research suggests can affect treatment quality... nyt
I'm glad that this issue is being brought to light, and that more women are starting to feel comfortable to call these issues out.
ReplyDelete