New Study Says LGBTQ People are Twice as Likely to Have Experienced Medical Gaslighting

Medical gaslighting is a harrowing reality for the LGBTQ community, and it can cause severe emotional and physical consequences. In a study conducted by Healthgrades and OutCare Health, 952 adults identifying as LGBTQ and 1,049 adults identifying as cisgender and heterosexual were surveyed. The conclusion is distressing, with 47% of the LGBTQ respondents having experienced medical gaslighting, compared to 26% of their heterosexual, cisgender peers.

Interviewed by Healthline, Heather Zayde, LCSW, explains that “Medical gaslighting occurs when a healthcare provider downplays or negates a patient’s concerns about a health-related issue.” The New York Times reports that women, people of color, LGBTQ people, and geriatric patients are also disproportionately affected. These dismissive attitudes can not only lead to feelings of worthlessness, powerlessness, shame, depression, and anxiety but can also result in people being misdiagnosed and even result in deaths.

Also interviewed by Healthline, Dr. Mandi Pratt-Chapman of the George Washington University Cancer Center underscores how transgender and nonbinary people are especially susceptible to these negative experiences. One of her own studies conducted with transgender and gender-diverse participants reveals that “Embedded in the dismissal of TGD patients by staff and clinicians is structural discrimination and stigma.” The experiences within the LGBTQ community are not uniform. Individuals’ cultural and social identities, such as race, ethnicity, social class, and gender identity, intersect to create unique challenges.

The numbers speak for themselves in Healthgrades and OutCare Health’s study. Only 44% of LGBTQ respondents agreed to the question “My doctor takes my opinions seriously,” compared to 57% of straight and cisgender respondents. The survey further illustrates the grim statistics, revealing that 18% of the participants reported experiencing medical trauma, while 10% said they have experienced some form of medical discrimination. Moreover, 13% of LGBTQ people reported emotional medical trauma, 6% reported physical trauma, and 3% reported sexual trauma—numbers considerably higher than those reported by cisgender and heterosexual people.

Medical gaslighting is to be taken seriously. Pratt-Chapman states that, “If people feel like they have to hide who they are, or they will be misgendered, or they will have negative encounters, many people choose not to engage with the healthcare system until they are in extreme need.” LGBTQ people can advocate for themselves by keeping detailed notes and records, finding affirming providers, reporting negative experiences, and using tools like “I Want You to Know” to communicate one’s identity and needs.

With only 54% of LGBTQ individuals trusting their primary care providers compared to 70% of cishet participants, the healthcare system faces a trust crisis, and it shouldn’t be the patient’s burden to advocate for themselves to be treated with professionalism and dignity. Medical gaslighting is not a problem that can be swept under the rug. It requires active engagement, empathy, and a dedicated effort from healthcare providers to recognize and validate the unique experiences of LGBTQ individuals.

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