Title: Medical Gaslighting: An Escalating Concern for Patient Safety and the Journey Toward Solutions
In its newly published “Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2025,” ECRI—an independent nonprofit dedicated to enhancing healthcare quality—identified the disregard of patient, family, and caregiver concerns as the foremost safety issue. This emerging concern, often referred to as “medical gaslighting,” pertains to instances when patients perceive that their symptoms or experiences are minimized, dismissed, or not taken seriously by healthcare professionals.
While the term “gaslighting” suggests intentional deceit, this occurrence typically arises not from ill intent but from systemic pressures like time limitations, ineffective communication, cognitive biases, and administrative burdens. Gaining insight into both patient and physician viewpoints is vital for narrowing the divide and developing solutions.
The Patient’s Perspective: “I Don’t Feel Valued”
Experiencing medical gaslighting can be profoundly distressing. Patients frequently describe feeling invalidated, belittled, or outright ignored during medical interactions. Women, racial minorities, older adults, and those dealing with chronic or poorly understood conditions are particularly at risk.
One survey revealed that 71% of women reported being told their symptoms were psychosomatic or linked to stress. Additionally, extensive research underscores the effects of implicit bias, especially against Black patients, who statistically receive inadequate pain management compared to white patients with similar complaints.
Misdiagnoses are a significant fallout. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicates that 12 million Americans encounter a misdiagnosis annually, causing roughly 10% of patient fatalities and up to 17% of adverse incidents in hospitals.
Patient accounts often recount rushed appointments where clinicians interrupt within moments, skipping vital symptom information. Despite advancements in technology, adherence to strict scheduling and documentation protocols hampers communication and fosters distrust. This creates conditions where patients postpone essential care, endure psychological repercussions, or withdraw from the healthcare system entirely.
The Physician’s Perspective: Strained by Systems, Not Malice
Most practitioners do not aim to overlook their patients. However, the challenges facing modern medicine are substantial—and escalating.
Today’s physicians experience significant systemic strain, including fewer appointment slots, increasing documentational demands, and the necessary (albeit time-intensive) Electronic Health Records (EHR). A research study from the American Medical Association and Dartmouth-Hitchcock found that physicians devote nearly half of their workday to EHR tasks, allowing only 27% of their time for direct patient engagement. For every hour spent on clinical interaction, almost two hours are required for digital documentation.
Burnout exacerbates the problem. More than 40% of physicians report experiencing burnout symptoms—emotional fatigue, detachment, and a diminished sense of achievement. Burnout not only reduces empathy but also clouds clinical judgment, increasing the likelihood that providers will resort to cognitive shortcuts or overlook non-obvious complaints.
The compounding pressure of 15-minute appointment slots compels clinicians to prioritize efficiency over thoroughness. These restrictions can lead to miscommunication, disjointed care, and inadvertent harm.
To add complexity, the term “medical gaslighting” may strike providers as accusatory, especially when they are working under heavy workloads with the wish to assist. Many express feelings of “moral injury”—the anguish of being unable to offer the standard of care they were trained and ethically motivated to provide.
Bridging the Divide: Enhancing Communication and Reforming Systems
Failures in communication represent a crucial breakdown in healthcare. A review of 23,000 malpractice claims by CRICO Strategies identified over 7,000 instances stemming from communication failures—resulting in around 2,000 preventable deaths and $1.7 billion in damages. The Joint Commission further reports that 80% of serious medical errors are linked to communication challenges during care transitions.
Yet, there is a glimmer of hope. Research indicates that improved communication leads to better outcomes. Patients who feel acknowledged are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, have fewer emergency visits, and report higher levels of satisfaction.
Strategies for enhancing communication include:
– Attentive listening (avoiding premature interruptions)
– Acknowledging patient experiences—especially when symptoms are ambiguous or hard to diagnose
– Clear explanation of diagnostic rationale
– Establishing explicit follow-up expectations
– Incorporating shared decision-making
10 Practical Suggestions for Patients & Providers
Equipping both patients and providers with practical strategies can mitigate misunderstandings and enhance safety outcomes.
Suggestions for Patients:
1. Prepare notes with brief symptom overviews.
2. Focus on key issues to discuss within time constraints.
3. Be precise and detailed while describing symptoms.
4. Use “I feel” statements to communicate concerns.
5. Pose questions if clarifications are needed.
6. Schedule follow-ups if symptoms persist.
7. Maintain personal medical records.
8. Bring along a supportive person if desired.
9. Recognize clinicians who listen attentively.
10. Don’t hesitate to pursue a second opinion.
Suggestions for Providers:
1. Allow patients to express their initial concerns fully.
2. Validate symptoms even when uncertainty exists.