Have you ever had an appointment with a doctor who wasn’t listening to you? Maybe they didn’t address your questions or dismissed your concerns? This experience has been reported by many women. However, it is even more common among women of color––particularly Black women––and it is known as “medical gaslighting.”
Two years ago, the term “gaslighting” was Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s “Word of the Year.” It’s used to describe someone who deceives and manipulates another person to make them doubt themselves. In a healthcare setting, this is called “medical gaslighting” and describes when medical professionals ignore or dismiss a patient’s concerns.
Serena Williams’ Close Call
The experience of Serena Williams – tennis superstar – after the birth of her first child, Olympia, is a well-known example of Medical Gaslighting. Serena Williams believes that if she had not raised concerns, and persisted when she was ignored, she might have died after giving birth seven years ago.
After Ms. Williams delivered her daughter by C-section, she worried about developing blood clots. She had experienced them before and so was at higher risk. When she started to cough uncontrollably and experience unbearable pain, she asked the nurse for a CT scan to check for a blood clot in her lungs and a blood thinner to reduce the chance for clots. Instead of looking into her concerns, her nurses suggested that she was confused due to her pain medications. Her doctors gave her with an ultrasound of her legs instead of a CT scan and did not find any problems. Ms. Williams again insisted that the doctors give her a CT scan and blood thinners. When the doctors finally agreed to a CT scan, they discovered life-threatening blood clots in her lungs. It was only then that she received the care she needed.
The story of Serena Williams shows us that even a celebrity who can afford the best care can be doubted and treated poorly by her doctors. She is not alone. Despite displaying similar symptoms to white men, women of color tend to receive:
- Cancer diagnoses at slower rates
- Less aggressive treatments for brain injuries and
- Fewer pain medications
In addition, doctors are more likely to blame women’s physical symptoms on mental health issues like anxiety or suggest it is our fault and that we do not take proper care of ourselves. This kind of biased gaslighting contributes to worse treatment and health outcomes. Not only does mistreatment by health providers endanger our health, but it also discourages us from seeking medical help when we need it. Because we are more likely to be ignored and have our concerns dismissed, we need to pay extra attention to our health, educate ourselves about health risks, and arrive at our appointments armed with a list of our symptoms and quality health information. Health knowledge is a superpower.™
What Should I Look For?
If you are wondering if your medical needs are being met, here are some signs you should look for. Is your doctor:
- Dismissing your symptoms or concerns?
- Interrupting you often?
- Showing a lack of empathy?
- Delaying your treatment or diagnosis?
- Refusing to recommend further tests or referrals you feel are necessary to learn more about your condition?
- Suggesting that your physical symptoms are only in your head?
Medical Care Is a Partnership
We go to medical providers because they are experts. This can make it difficult to advocate for ourselves if we are not trained in medicine. But what should you do if you don’t feel like you are being taken seriously? The best approach is to treat the relationship with your provider as a partnership. Make sure that you are prepared for your appointment and be ready to speak up if you do not feel heard. For your next visit, make sure to:
- Tell the provider the reason for your visit and list any specific symptoms that concern you.
- Come prepared with research from credible sources (like the Living Well Black’s Consumer Health Library at https://livingwellblack.staywellhealthlibrary.com/) on your symptoms and concerns.
- Be clear, concise, and ask questions.
- Take notes as you talk with your physician.
- Know your medical history.
- Know your family’s health history. Learn about what information is covered in your family health history at https://livingwellblack.org/living-well-black-blog/family-reunion-this-4th-of-july-weekend-ask-relatives-about-your-familys-health-history/.
- Bring a friend or family member for support.
- Share with your doctor if you don’t feel heard or if you don’t believe have answered your questions.
You Know Your Body Best
Finally, remember that although you may not be in the medical field, you know your body best. Push physicians to respect your concerns, and remember that you can always seek help from another doctor if you don’t feel heard. In addition you can contact patient advocates for the hospital or physician practice group to report concerns about care quality.
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