What Is Medical Gaslighting? Explores A New Study

By now, thanks to social media for awareness and therapy, which is now more accessible, everyone must know what gaslighting mean. For those who don't, it is a form of emotional abuse that involves a person manipulating another to question their reality, thoughts, and feelings. This happens when someone makes you feel that your problems are not real, and it makes the victim doubt their own instincts and perception.

However, what's more is that it even exists in the medical field. Yes, you read it right. There is a concept called medical gaslighting. This term has also gained quite a traction in the recent years and describes the experience of being dismissed, disbelieved, or having health concerns reduced to factors like weight, hormones, or mental health. This term may feel new, however, this phenomenon has been affecting patients, especially women and minority groups for decade. It is because science mostly studied men, that too, not diverse groups, putting women and people or color more at the risk of feeling medically gaslit.

What is Medical Gaslighting?

The University of Windsor worked with Canadians to know more about their experiences and stories of medical gaslighting. Katrina Dobson, a Canadian woman, is all too familiar with this issue. Diagnosed with chronic illnesses like Eagle’s syndrome, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and mast cell activation syndrome, Katrina recounts harrowing experiences of medical gaslighting that nearly cost her life.

In one instance, after experiencing a severe allergic reaction, she was left waiting in a hospital for hours while her throat began to close. Even after being seen, a nurse questioned whether her reaction was genuine, accusing her of purposefully ingesting walnuts.

Another time, hospital staff called her husband to confirm her need for a breast pump, doubting her word. “It was completely dehumanizing,” Katrina’s husband, Landon, said.

By definition, medical gaslighting occurs when healthcare providers fail to take patients' concerns seriously, leaving them feeling invalidated and ignored. This can also lead to delayed diagnoses, improper treatment and also life-threatening situations.

Can it have impacts beyond health?

For another victim, Katrina, the study notes, medical gaslighting does not just mean physical impact, but also erodes self-confidence and mental well-being.

“I started doubting myself,” Katrina shared. “I was made to feel like a hypochondriac, like it was all in my head. It’s gotten to the point where I avoid seeing doctors, which isn’t healthy for anyone.”

Researcher Marissa Rakus from the University of Windsor explains this is a common outcome. “Medical gaslighting often leaves patients feeling anxious, depressed, and isolated. It can even cause trauma.”

This is a systematic problem

As per Rakus, medical gaslighting comes from the systematic issues in healthcare, rather than actions of individual doctors. “The medical system was historically designed by men for men,” Rakus explains. “Women weren’t even included in medical trials until the 1990s, which is shockingly recent.”

The lack of inclusivity in research is what leads to such a problem.

The Way Forward

Medical gaslighting is a critical issue that demands attention from both patients and the healthcare system. By sharing experiences, advocating for systemic change, and fostering collaborative doctor-patient relationships, progress can be made.