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Medical misdiagnosis in Women of Color

  • 3 days ago
  • 7 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

 Patients of colour, notably those of African ancestry, are more likely to be misdiagnosed and suffer harm due to diagnostic error. (Epstein, n.d.) The risk of misdiagnosis, which includes delays in diagnosis, wrongful diagnosis, and no diagnosis at all, impacts women more due to the lack of medical knowledge about women’s health. Women of colour not only face disadvantages and discrimination as patients in terms of diagnosis, but also as plaintiffs seeking justice for medical malpractice in the legal system. (Plaza, 2020) This article aims to address these issues and provide a solution based on research. 

The Cause of Misdiagnosis in Women 

Inaccurate diagnoses pose a serious health and social issue for women. Unknown physical symptoms, which medical experts don't take seriously, are difficult for women to deal with, resulting in postponements, uncertainty, self-doubt, emotional turmoil, and, in extreme cases, fatalities. (Thompson & Blake, 2022) 


One of the main causes of incorrect diagnoses in medical research is a lack of representation in research. The health issues facing women were not thoroughly studied in the past, as research was centred around white men. Thus, Healthcare providers addressed women’s health issues using male-centric research data (Plaza, 2020). This data was inaccurate in terms of women's health and led to misdiagnoses. Therefore, Pain is dismissed and associated with other medical concerns, most often the female reproductive system or mental wellness. (Littlejohn, 2019) The lack of knowledge proves to be an even bigger barrier for women of colour when intersections mix. A lack of research within medical research, including biases in standard diagnostic techniques, a lack of understanding of the various symptoms, causes, and medical histories of diseases that affect POC and female populations, as well as research that does not fairly represent minority groups. Many women of colour end up with incorrect diagnoses in both medical and psychological settings. (Satish & Pal, 2023) For instance, endometriosis used to be associated with “white women in higher income levels.” (Dunne, 2020) Misconceptions stemming from a lack of knowledge, such as “women of colour were immune to endometriosis” and “African American women were more promiscuous than their white peers,” led to generations of Black women who experienced pelvic pain being misdiagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease rather than endometriosis. (Dunne, 2020)


Women encounter difficulties in receiving appropriate diagnoses not only because of misconceptions and stereotypes but also because of relations with social class, age, race, and weight. (Plaza, 2020) Women from low socioeconomic backgrounds encounter additional challenges in receiving an accurate diagnosis because of the intersection of their gender and socioeconomic status. These challenges include restricted access to healthcare services, less ability for self-advocacy, insufficient funds for follow-up visits or specialist care, and a lack of time and resources devoted to obtaining an accurate diagnosis. (Thompson & Blake, 2022) White women from a higher socioeconomic status have the privilege of getting diagnosed and treated for particularly chronic pain disorders due to access to specialized care that takes them seriously. (Plaza, 2020) While women from underprivileged backgrounds struggle to get their symptoms acknowledged and treated without being written off as “trivial” or “psychosomatic.” (Plaza, 2020) 


Jen Brea saw experts for four years before receiving a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. (Plaza, 2020) For three years, a woman with ovarian cancer was given an incorrect early menopausal diagnosis. (Plaza, 2020) A doctor misdiagnosed a South Asian woman's stomach ulcer and acid reflux, leading to humiliation and doubt. As a result of limited access to pertinent information regarding rare diseases, women in East Asia, particularly China, receive incorrect diagnoses. (Dong et al., 2020) Consequently, there are numerous instances of black, Asian, Indigenous, Latina, and other ethnically diverse women facing increased obstacles to diagnosis because of information gaps or other factors. 


Overall, research in medical studies, mostly centred around white men, has led to an inadequate understanding of women's health issues, particularly black women’s health issues. This knowledge gap has resulted in misdiagnoses due to symptoms being dismissed, pain being undervalued, and discomfort being classified as psychological. (Plaza, 2020) Thus, in order to improve the quality of healthcare, research needs to address health inequalities, incorporate more diverse samples, and be evaluated according to race, gender, and other identities. (Satish & Pal, 2023) This may reduce healthcare inequality and improve treatment for the future. 


Medical Malpractice Law 

Medical malpractice law was established for patients to seek justice after suffering from medical injustice and harm. (Plaza, 2020) The most frequent kind of malpractice claims are for mistaken diagnosis, which are estimated by the Institute of Medicine to cost hospitals between $17 and $29 billion a year. (Plaza, 2020)


In order to prevail in a medical malpractice case in the US and Canada, the plaintiff must prove that the medical professional had a duty of care that they breached by failing to meet the legally required standard of care. The medical professional's negligence and violation of their duty caused the plaintiff's injury, and the plaintiff suffered economic and non-economic damages and losses as a result of the injury. (Plaza, 2020) However, the legal criteria for medical negligence lawsuits may not provide comparable protection for women, given the lack of knowledge surrounding health issues. (Plaza, 2020) 


Attorneys evaluate medical malpractice cases based on a number of factors, such as state-specific considerations, patient demographics (age, gender), and case outcome (Plaza, 2020). When it comes to medical malpractice cases, some women find it difficult to obtain a lawyer since they tend to favour cases with larger potential payouts while disregarding those with weaker financial claims (Plaza, 2020). This is a severe disadvantage that disproportionately impacts women, making their recovery more challenging due to the mistreatment suffered from both the judicial and medical systems. 


Even if the plaintiff is successful in obtaining a legal representative, there is a rare chance of the court understanding and addressing the legal claim. Edna Wilburn's case serves as an example. When she suffered two strokes, her doctors neglected standard procedure and misdiagnosed her as having conversion disorder and depression. (Plaza, 2020) Only after her third stroke was a rare blood disease successfully diagnosed. (Plaza, 2020) Edna sued and was successful in trial court. However, the appeals court overturned the verdict, concluding that Edna's injuries were not caused by the incorrect diagnoses. However, the court disregarded the serious suffering that resulted from the initial misdiagnosis, causing delayed treatment, worsening of her condition, and stigmatization. (Plaza, 2020) The court failed to hold the doctors accountable for their negligence and provide Edna with adequate justice she deserved by downplaying the significance of the misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis due to a lack of understanding. Medical malpractice trials include one judge, and only a minority of cases involve juries. Perhaps Edna would have been given justice if there had been a jury that was evenly distributed and comprised women. Having juries in medical malpractice cases with women in particular may bring more empathy, understanding, and be dependable toward female defendants who have been medically mistreated and unlawfully ignored. However, conflicting information is available regarding whether juries and judges award plaintiffs different amounts of damages. (Flood & Thomas, 2011) 


Women in medical malpractice cases face additional disadvantages due to court decisions and tort reform legislation. It's possible that judges are ignorant of women's concerns and fail to see crucial details that could jeopardize the women's prospects of recovery. Judges could potentially overlook that defensive medicine practices were unnecessary and excessive tests and treatments are done. (Jones, 1996) This prevents victims from healing and obscures accountability and retribution for the wrongdoers. Additionally, in countries like Canada, with a complex healthcare system divided between federal and provincial governments, judges require a high burden of proof for medical malpractice cases. This fails to provide a fair opportunity for victims of malpractice to receive rehabilitation. (Flood & Thomas, 2011) Overall, the existing justice system in the US and Canada ignores knowledge and trust gaps, making cases exceedingly difficult and disadvantageous for female litigants. A more effective approach would prioritize patient safety and hold healthcare providers accountable, ensuring that victims receive the compensation and justice they deserve for medical malpractice. 


Conclusion 

In conclusion, misdiagnoses disproportionately harm women. This problem stems from a lack of research and knowledge about women's health issues, resulting in misdiagnosis, misrepresentation, and inequality in health for women, especially women of colour. (Satish & Pal, 2023) The lack of knowledge furthermore affects women who seek justice for misdiagnoses by suing for medical negligence; they end up encountering more injustices and disadvantages in the legal system. The lack of understanding affects whether the malpractice case is even pursued or properly reviewed, resulting in an unequal chance at justice for malpractice cases. It is necessary to alter laws and healthcare practices to adequately safeguard women, particularly women of colour. (Plaza, 2020) Resolving complications regarding inaccurate diagnoses in both the judicial and medical systems may improve the chance for women to successfully obtain justice


Written by Khadija Aleem 


References 

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