Patient Experiences of Disrespectful or Judgmental Language in Medical Records - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Patients’ Perspectives on Judgmental and Disrespectful Language in Medical Records

  • By

  • Natasha Steele

  • Amrapali Maitra

  • Zhiyong Dong

  • Deborah Wachenheim

  • Vishnu Nair

  • Alfredo Reyes-Guzman

  • Aditya Narayan

  • Erika Schillinger

  • Preetha Basaviah

  • Jason Hom

  • Sigall K. Bell

  • October 13, 2026

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  • 1

    The 2021 information blocking rule gave patients immediate access to clinical notes through electronic health record portals.

  • 2

    Stigmatizing language in medical records can communicate disbelief, disapproval, or judgment about patients’ character, behavior, or social identity.

  • 3

    Prior research found that 10% of patients who accessed notes at 3 outpatient sites felt judged or offended by clinicians’ documentation.

  • 4

    This nationally weighted cross-sectional online survey of 500 US adults examined reported disrespectful or judgmental language, anticipated consequences, and trust in documentation.

  • 5

    The study defined diminished documentation trust as having little or no confidence that clinicians describe patients accurately and respectfully in notes.

Original Source(s)

Patient Experiences of Disrespectful or Judgmental Language in Medical Records

  • by Natasha Steele, Amrapali Maitra, Zhiyong Dong, Deborah Wachenheim, Vishnu Nair, Alfredo Reyes-Guzman, Aditya Narayan, Erika Schillinger, Preetha Basaviah, Jason Hom, Sigall K. Bell

  • October 13, 2026

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