The dark side of doctor-patient interactions: medical gaslighting

Medical gaslighting is a distressing phenomenon wherein patients seeking medical care encounter an unsettling scenario. In these instances, individuals turn to healthcare professionals for help with their health concerns, only to experience dismissal or disbelief. The term "gaslighting" originates from the psychological manipulation tactic where an individual's reality is undermined, causing them to doubt their perceptions and judgment. In the context of healthcare, medical gaslighting occurs when doctors or medical practitioners downplay a patient's symptoms, offer vague explanations, or dismiss their concerns altogether. This can leave patients feeling invalidated, anxious, and more uncertain about their health than before seeking help.

Tami Burdick is a patient advocate and author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis.

#GaslightingAwareness #HealthcareReality #DoctorPatientTrust #MedicalGaslighting #PatientAdvocacy #SpeakUpForHealth #MedicalDismissal #DoubtNoMore #HealthcareEmpowerment #BreakTheSilence

[AHURGH]

"Sometimes people just need to hear that there's nothing wrong" -my doctor, thanks guy

[x.s]

My dr said "You're too young for carpal tunnel (i was 20) have you heard of fibromyalgia its a fake mental condition where women who were sexually abused think they are in pain constantly. Does that sound like you?"

I still told him i wanted tested for Carpal tunnel and guess what I HAD IT IN BOTH ARMS. He did no tell me my dx he had actually left me in the testing room for 15 min before a nurse came in with medical arm braces and started to tell me how to use them.

I stopped her and said "So i do have carpal tunnel? Or something else?"

She said "Did he not give you your dx?"

"No he just took the needles out and immediately left the room before i sat up no word to me. Ive been in here alone 15min or more."

She was mildly shocked but seemed like it was normal for him.

Worse thing is he had a med student shadowing him. I hope the med student wrote it all down and guy was reprimanded or something. I was young and didnt know complaining on a dr was even a thing you could do at the time or i wouldve.

Dude was 70-80yr old so definitely dead by now at least thank goodness. I just cant imagine if that had been done to a woman who maybe was more depressed and couldve hurt herself over his "fake illness for sa women" talk. Disgusting human being

[Newlaw]

Me: "Im having alot of issues *list issues to doctor*. Im afraid i have an autoimmune issue."
Doctor: "Lets not open it that can of worms."

[BejaranoAngeles..]

As a retired Paramedic .. I advise if this happens go to the ER, they are the best Doctors, they see everything, they are the best with figuring your medical issues out..

[Roy_Vale]

I got tested for scoliosis for my abnormal gait, and I don’t have it, so now my mom thinks my gait is “all in my head”, but I can’t control it. I also might have autism, with my dad thinking I have it and my mom thinking I don’t, but neither of them bother to get a proper diagnosis and just leave me to self diagnose with my dad saying “well, you know you’re symptoms, and you know the symptoms of autism, so no need for a diagnosis” and my mom saying “You don’t have it and a diagnosis is gonna hurt you” (I am being hurt more by being left to wonder why I can’t eat normally, why I can’t be in the same room as people without getting overstimulated, why I can’t make friends easily if at all, why I can’t talk right, why I can’t find people to talk about my interests about)

[Concert]

Well it’s not uncommon for the doctor not knowing exactly what’s going on…so they may not see a clear diagnosis of the issue and trying to do their best to assure the patient…not sure how you would call that “gaslighting” them….

[rwilson]

As someone with some common sense, I would say find another doctor, it’s that simple. But if she is referring to sex changes for kids, then she is in the wrong. I know 2 detransitioning transfemale back to males, this has made them suicidal to say the least. They have scars on them to show the doctors didn’t really care, at all.