Women Are Calling Out ‘Medical Gaslighting’

By Melinda Wenner Moyer

A long-term complaint among female patients about providers playing down or misdiagnosing their health issues has been given a new catch phrase: medical gaslighting. Research supports that differential treatment between men and women is real, manifested as longer waits for certain diagnoses and less aggressive treatment for some injuries in women, who also are generally less likely to be prescribed pain medications. Physicians, many female patients contend, shrug off their health issues as weight-related or "all in their head." The imbalance appears to be even more pronounced among women of color, with studies indicating that Black populations overall tend to receive poorer-quality care. To remedy this disconnect, scientists say more research is needed to expand providers' knowledge of women's health conditions. In the meantime, some say doctors should spend more time with patients and see fewer patients in general. From the patient perspective, experts recommend that women and people of color consider taking someone with them to medical appointments and switch providers if they feel like their concerns are not being taken seriously.

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