A new review paper from Rutgers Health highlights the severe impacts of medical gaslighting, where healthcare professionals dismiss patient symptoms. This trend significantly affects patients with chronic illnesses, leading to exacerbated conditions, feelings of shame, and loss of faith in medical professionals. The meta-synthesis involved over 11,000 individuals with difficult-to-diagnose illnesses. The authors stress the need for validation in healthcare interactions, pointing out that minimizing patients' concerns can have dangerous emotional and physical consequences, ultimately calling for a shift in medical culture to address these issues more effectively.
Statements meant to be reassuring, like 'it's probably nothing,' communicate to patients that their concerns are being minimized.
The consequences of dismissed symptoms may include worsening medical conditions, shame, loss of trust in clinicians, and even suicidal feelings.
The review highlights the prevalence of contested and difficult-to-diagnose illnesses, emphasizing the urgent need for better recognition and validation of patients' experiences.
Validation—not reassurance—is essential; patients need acknowledgment of their struggles rather than being told their concerns are insignificant.
#medical-gaslighting #patient-experience #chronic-illness #healthcare-quality #validation-in-medicine
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