Defining Medical Gaslighting—To Extinguish It - Takeaways - MDSpire
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Understanding Medical Gaslighting—Aiming to Eliminate It

  • By

  • Connie M. S. Janiszewski

  • Danielle Mosterd

  • Catherine Emerson

  • Antonina Mikocka-Walus

  • Lisa B. Grech

  • September 14, 2026

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  • 1

    Medical gaslighting emerged in 2020, describing the dismissal of patients' symptoms, particularly in chronic illness contexts.

  • 2

    The term has gained traction in public discourse, often sensationalized and conflated with other negative healthcare experiences.

  • 3

    Marginalized populations experience higher rates of medical gaslighting due to systemic biases in Western medicine.

  • 4

    Intersectionality plays a crucial role in how medical gaslighting is experienced, with varying impacts based on race and gender.

  • 5

    A clear, theoretically grounded definition of medical gaslighting is needed to guide research and clinical practice.

Original Source(s)

Defining Medical Gaslighting—To Extinguish It

  • by Connie M. S. Janiszewski, Danielle Mosterd, Catherine Emerson, Antonina Mikocka-Walus, Lisa B. Grech

  • September 14, 2026

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