Physicians have years of education and medical training in which they learn about various medical conditions and their symptoms. Therefore, it’s understandable that you would accept their diagnosis of any health issues you may be having.
However, you may be surprised to know that women are often misdiagnosed, especially when it comes to heart disease.
Gender bias in healthcare
Historically, medical research focused primarily on men, with the belief that men and women would experience the same symptoms for the same health condition. This led to a gap in knowledge, and women’s symptoms were often dismissed or misdiagnosed as stress, anxiety or other psychological causes.
Cardiovascular disease is an excellent example. Even though it’s the leading cause of death among women, it’s often misdiagnosed. A woman experiencing a heart attack sometimes has symptoms of jaw pain, nausea and fatigue, which are different from the classic symptoms, such as chest pain, typically seen in men. Many healthcare providers fail to understand the differences, which can result in delayed treatment.
Endometriosis often takes years to diagnose. About 1 in 10 women of reproductive age experience this painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Severe menstrual cramps, pelvic pain and fatigue are dismissed as “normal” period pain.
Another condition affecting 10% of women’s reproductive health is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The symptoms of weight gain, irregular periods and acne are attributed to lifestyle choices, rather than the complex endocrine disorder it is.
Last, autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis have vague symptoms like fatigue, joint pain and brain fog, and are more likely to be experienced by women. Treatment for these debilitating illnesses is often delayed by months or years because the symptoms were attributed to stress or psychosomatic.
Doctors have a duty of care to their patients, which includes being knowledgeable about new medical research and its application to diagnosing medical problems. Failure to fulfill the duty of care can result in preventable harm and may provide grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Women who believe they’ve been harmed due to a misdiagnosis may want to consider speaking with a legal professional. They can determine if there is cause for legal action and guide you through the process. Our healthcare system needs to treat everyone equally.
