Unmasking Medical Gaslighting: What You Need to Know

Welcome to another episode of What the Health with Dr. Sarah Baxley. Today, we tackle the often overlooked issue of medical gaslighting – a situation where healthcare providers dismiss or diminish patient symptoms, leading to severe consequences. This episode delves into situations many of us may relate to, where doctors label real symptoms as stress or anxiety, dismiss test findings, or assign blame to irrelevant factors like weight and age.

Dr. Baxley examines who is most affected by medical gaslighting, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women, minorities, neurodivergent individuals, and those with mental health diagnoses. She discusses the real-world effects of being dismissed and misdiagnosed, including prolonged suffering, worsened health conditions, and preventable risks.

Learn practical steps to advocate for yourself in the healthcare system, and understand the cognitive biases and systemic issues contributing to this dangerous practice.