A new term has emerged to describe a phenomenon many people - women in particular -may recognise. “Medical gaslighting” is what happens when a patient’s symptoms are not taken seriously or misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals. On social media, patients who feel their symptoms were written off too fast by overworked or simply dismissive professionals have been sharing their stories. The New York Times explains “that the term derives from a play called Gaslight about a husband’s attempt to drive his wife insane”.
We’d like to hear about your experiences of medical gaslighting - especially from women who, studies have shown, are more likely to have their symptoms brushed off, or their children’s illness explained away as over-anxious parenting.
Have you gone to a GP or specialist for help, only to feel ignored or condescended to? Did this have implications for your treatment and recovery?
Tell us your story using this form.
Please limit your submissions to 400 words or less. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your submission – we will keep your name and contact details confidential. You can include a photograph with your submission if you wish, but it is not essential.
A journalist may be in touch to follow up for a feature on medical gaslighting. Please note we may not publish every story we receive, or be able to reply to every submission. All authors whose stories are selected for publication will be contacted in advance.
Thank you.
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