Think about your last doctor’s appointment. Did your health care provider listen as you discussed your concerns? Did they order diagnostic tests and lab work to find the cause of your symptoms? Afterward, did they explain your test results and work with you to develop a treatment plan?
If so, you are fortunate to have a caring physician who takes the time and effort to ensure their patients’ well-being. Not everyone is so lucky. And, if you’re a woman, you are at a greater risk of misdiagnosis than men are.
Contributing factors in misdiagnoses
Gender bias is a significant factor when it comes to misdiagnoses in women. For years, medical research focused on male subjects. Because of this, most women’s symptoms were often ignored or misinterpreted.
Women are more likely to be gaslighted and brushed off when discussing their concerns. Heart conditions may be dismissed as anxiety, while chronic conditions like autoimmune diseases or fibromyalgia are too often still diagnosed as depression or “all in their head”. Not only are women likely to suffer longer, but they also face emotional distress from feeling unheard, which can discourage them from seeking further medical help.
Women are 50% more likely than men to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack. Furthermore, it takes an average of two and half years longer to diagnose women with cancer than men. The high rate of misdiagnosis among women is a systemic problem that needs a multifaceted approach. This includes holding physicians responsible for their actions.
Considering the likelihood of death or permanent disability due to a misdiagnosis, pursuing and winning a medical malpractice lawsuit can serve as a wake-up call that change is needed within the health care system. By highlighting issues such as gender bias or outdated research methods, health care providers can be encouraged to reassess their approach to patient care and ensure that everyone receives equal treatment.
