What is medical gaslighting?

If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office feeling ignored or dismissed, or had your health concern trivialised, you may have experienced ‘medical gaslighting’.

But what, exactly, is medical gaslighting? And how can you make sure your voice is heard?

You may have heard of ‘gaslighting’, a type of psychological manipulation that can make you question your reasoning, or even your sanity.

Medical gaslighting specifically refers to when a patient feels their concerns or symptoms about their health have been ignored or invalidated by a healthcare professional.¹

“This can sometimes be the case in a medical setting as there is a power imbalance between patients and their doctors that can be abused,” says Nicole Vanderkroef, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Bupa Senior Health Content Specialist.

“This might mean a person raises some more serious concerns with their doctor but feels these are either dismissed or brushed-off as not being anything serious.”

Poor communication and feeling rushed in a session probably isn’t considered gaslighting. But how do you know when you are being rushed or outright dismissed?

“Someone may feel their doctor doesn’t take the time to fully listen to their concerns,” says Vanderkroef. “They may hear statements like, ‘Oh, that’s nothing to worry about’ or, ‘That’s perfectly normal’.”

If a situation is moving towards medical gaslighting, Vanderkroef says that some people may feel traumatised by their doctor’s response. This could amount to abuse or discrimination against a person, and may be based on things like:

• sex and gender
• age
• weight
• race
• disability
• sexual-orientation
• other personal factors.

“This can be extremely distressing, especially when medical professionals are in such a highly held position of trust,” says Vanderkroef.

Of course, anyone can experience medical gaslighting. But research shows that women² and other marginalised groups, such as people of colour³ and LGBTQIA+ people⁴, are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed by a medical provider which may result in a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.

If you think your healthcare provider isn’t hearing you, here are some strategies to help.

“There can be a lot to cover in medical appointments, and that way you can refer to your list and check things off as you go,” says Vanderkroef.

Vanderkroef adds that she’s even handed her doctor the list, then worked through each concern one by one.

Sometimes there simply isn’t enough time for a doctor to discuss all of your concerns. If you’ve booked a 15-minute appointment with your GP and you have a long list of things to cover, or you have a concern that requires a more in-depth chat, your GP may be in a difficult position to help you with everything.

So, it can help to think about how much time you’ll really need when you book an appointment. Or, if you have run out of time, you may need to book another appointment.

This could include a family member or close friend.

“They might pick up things the doctor said that you’ve missed or be able to chime in with more questions,” says Vanderkroef.

It’s not always easy to push back against medical experts, but you need to advocate for yourself if you feel like they’re not.

“If someone is concerned about their health, [they should] continue to raise it with their doctor, if they feel safe to,” says Vanderkroef. “Doctors are only human, and there’s a chance they might have misunderstood your level of concern.”

If you’ve done everything possible to work through your concerns with your current health provider and haven’t found an adequate outcome, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion from another professional.

“Sometimes asking people you know for recommendations can help you find a doctor who’s a better fit for you or may specialise in an area,” says Vanderkroef. “There are lots of great doctors out there who will take the time to listen and understand your concern.”

“In some cases, reporting the health provider to the practice manager, or to a professional body, might be needed”, says Vanderkroef. This could be your state or territory healthcare complaints body, or a relevant professional board or association.

Vanderkroef says that experiencing medical gaslighting can leave you feeling distressed. If this is the case for you, she recommends seeking support from a mental health professional, who “can help to unpack your feelings and come up with some tailored strategies to help you”.

“For people who have experienced other trauma or abuse,” she adds, “feeling that they are being gaslighted can be triggering, negatively affecting their mental health, and may discourage them from seeking important medical treatment.”

You can search for a registered psychologist or counsellor by visiting:

• the Australian Psychological Society
• the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
• the Australian Counselling Association

Lifeline Australia offers 24/7 crisis support online and on the phone at 13 11 14.

Beyond Blue offers 24/7 mental health information and support online and on the phone at 1300 224 636.

13YARN offers a national crisis support line for First Nations People on 13 92 76. The support line is available 24/7.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) supports the mental health of parents and families online and on the phone at 1300 726 306.