Systemic strain creates the perfect environment for medical gaslighting

Otolaryngologist Alan P. Feren discusses his article "How system strain contributes to medical gaslighting in health care." Alan explores why encounters that patients experience as dismissive or manipulative often stem from communication breakdowns driven by productivity pressures rather than clinician malice. He examines the cognitive reality of modern practice where heuristic shortcuts and a discomfort with uncertainty lead well-intentioned providers to offer premature reassurance that feels like invalidation. The conversation highlights critical inflection points like early interruptions and reliance on "normal" test results that erode trust and delay diagnosis. Alan argues that resolving this crisis requires moving beyond blame toward a partnership model where uncertainty is explicitly named and shared. Learn how shifting the focus from transactional care to collaborative sense-making can restore safety and humanity to the exam room.

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