Gender Bias Creates A Culture Of Disbelief For Female Patients | Colene Arnold | TEDxPortsmouth

It's common knowledge that gender bias exists in the workplace, but it also exists in the health care system. Dr. Arnold, a Board-certified gynecologist, explains how gender bias affects the capacity of physicians and health care practitioners to hear and believe their female patients. Dr. Arnold is a Board-certified gynecologist in private practice at Inner Balance Pelvic Health & Wellness Center in Newington. She sees routine gynecology patients and specializes in pelvic pain disorders, giving her clear insight into the problems that exist within the structure of our current medical care models. In 2016, she co-founded a nonprofit organization, Hope On Haven Hill, which opened in her family’s home, providing residential substance use treatment to pregnant women and their newborns. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Runcible2010]

I complained of autoimmune-mediated heart arrhythmias, and the (female) cardiologist advised me to just not worry about things. Translation: "Psychogenic," or "hysterical woman syndrome." Months later, my (male) internist ordered the echocardiogram that the cardiologist did not order.

[@margiewalker1808]

I have experienced bias by an orthopedic doctor. I didn't realize it until my older husband had a similar but less severe knee injury about a year and a half after me and was taken way more seriously by the doctor. He was diagnosed and treated more quickly and received pain management that was not offered to me. Needless to say, I found a new orthopedic surgeon.

[@happyness2096]

Ago I recommend to you DR RORPOPOR HERBAL on KZbin the great healer of our time the sickness and disease destroyer , this man kills and buried my pcos with his natural herbal medicine within 17days of usage,..

[@pequenaesposa3286]

Please report this Dr you can report them even 20 years after an incident:(

[@saracorwin3287]

Same happened to me

[@AngelCruz56970]

Dr. Arnold mentions several statistics that are seen in women healthcare when compared to men. It is astounding how many things go undiagnosed in women. There are several stereotypes that healthcare providers may hold about women. This influences how providers may treat their female patients. Dr. Arnold mentions how women can be perceived when they either hide their pain or show it during visits. This particular stereotype has shifted how female patients may approach their healthcare when women’s healthcare should be approached either the same as male patients or seen more closely. Dr. Arnold mentioned that one of the first things a doctor should do is believe their female patients when they come in for a visit. Just by believing them can create such a difference for female patients because this will allow for quality care and trust between patient and physician. There are several ways that we can address gender bias in healthcare. First and foremost, it is important to raise awareness about the issue and improve medical education and research to include a more diverse range of patients. Not only that, I believe that by increasing the representation of women in healthcare in leadership positions will allow for this bias to be addressed in a different way. As a medical student, it is important for future doctors to be trained to recognize this and address this bias that exists in the healthcare field while also being able to provide culturally competent care to all patients, regardless of gender.

[@ErutaniaRose]

Took me switching Drs at 18 to even get a recommendation for birth control for period pain. My former dr, who was a woman, thought I was "just stressed" and that it was "normal period pain". I was unable to even roll over in bed and she thought that was freaking NORMAL. Still fighting for a diagnosis for my period issues, and my other chronic pain and illness issues. Also didn't get confirmed as having learning disabilities till I was 20, and only found out I was ADHD at 17. These are not traditional medicine but still count for the late diagnosis, meaning less or no help.

[@amethystflower8799]

As a former pelvic pain patient, I appreciate this so much!

[@colenearnoldmd2712]

Thank you, glad for you that the descriptive is "former". I'm sure that it was a long road for you. You serve as an inspiration to all of those who are embarking on your same journey or for those who feel that it will never end.

[@noellefusco2519]

I’m almost 20 and have had over 5 diagnosis only to find out I have autism and they still won’t officially say it’s autism. It’s exhausting.

[@amysantiago481]

The dismissal of women’s pain violates the ethical principle of non-maleficence. It is possible that the doctors that do this see the pain as “normal”, especially when it comes to pregnancy since it is a natural body process. The fact that women’s pain is understudied compared to men, therefore leading to the lack of information and ability to talk about it, can cause harm to the patient. In order to be a well-informed and competent doctor, conversations need to be started about women’s pain. Doctors need to find out the role they can play in the easing of pain. When women’s pain is viewed as theatrical, the consequence may be misdiagnoses and ineffective care (Chahine, 2023). Addressing this gender bias is one step closer to closing the gap of healthcare inequity.

[@valuabletipseasylife]

Thank you so much for talking about gender bias deeply.

[@colenearnoldmd2712]

Thank you, as you see below, not everyone believes in stereotypes and inherent bias, yet.

[@christaltoussaint2572]

As always, you are nothing short of inspiring. Don’t let uneducated people make you doubt yourself! You’ll always be a badass to me. ;)

[@KnaxetMia]

Really enlightening! Admiring your work! 🤗 I hope that everyone in the eudience embraced this! and I wish that every doctor in the world would understand the fact; "listening and belive in" is the only key and the most important act a doctor can do for their patients! Why is it soooooo difficult for a doctor just to listen? Why do they love their own voice too much? There must be a change now- very soon!

[@leafyveins4985]

My experiences with doctors of any kind have improved dramatically ever since I decided to stop seeing any male health practitioners. I'm not trying to be sexist. But the experiences I've had with men in the medical field have ranged from benign to extremely uncomfortable. A few of them were insulting. My care has improved so much since I only see woman doctors now

[@zlader-x8084]

انا مش عارف انا ليه مكنتش بابص ع المصادر من زمان 😂❤️

[@ltarekl]

ببص عليها من زمان اوي والله 😂 مشفتش كده

[@zlader-x8084]

@@ltarekl نفسي الدحيح يشوفنا والله 😂 هيبقى فخور بينا

[@joudabbadi]

You go bestie

[@dessyxxmusic7719]

❤️

[@eternalchao11]

Woman live longer though any ways but i guess a life of suffering is no good.

[@pequenaesposa3286]

Women living longer is a really interesting feild to look into, woman do not live longer than men when they do not die of natural causes. On a base level women will live longer because they have a period that cleans them out and makes them a bit more healthy, sadly spending a minimum of 10 years of your life just to being miserable and mocked for this occurrence to me isn't worth living only 7 more years on average. Women are considered to be: safer drivers, more likely to get medical and psychiatric help 15 times faster than men, do less wreckless things in college or the first 10 years outside of their parents home, less likely to be addicted to drugs or alcohol, more likely to handle stress and lastly have a better diet and exercise more often then men. This is no excuse for women being treated worse than men in the medical feild where gender shouldn't matter. Oh and by the way, woman don't live longer on average over all because of murder... Just to give one example and cut this short, pregnant women's leading cause of death is murder by the father or an unidentified male:(

[@DOlovesmedicine]

I think Dr. Arnold did a wonderful job at conveying the differences in healthcare treatments based on gender. Her example of physicians dismissing women’s pain yet administering pain medication to men for the exact same condition perfectly illustrates this discrimination. The medical ethics principle of nonmaleficence is the obligation of a physician to do no harm to their patient. Not taking a women’s pain complaint seriously should be considered an act of nonmaleficence by all physicians. Endometriosis is an extremely painful condition for a majority of women, yet the diagnosis often takes months to discover because many physicians will disregard the patient’s complaints. As Dr. Arnold states, women who appear stoic do not appear in pain, and women who are in tears and showing signs of discomfort are regarded as over-exaggerating. How can we find a common ground between the two? Why must women choose one or the other? How does their behavior truly determine how they feel? Because of this, I believe women need a larger representation in medicine. Male OB/GYNs are obviously well-esteemed and very smart physicians who care about their patients, but only female OB/GYNs can understand what their patient is experiencing. More women need to be encouraged to become leaders within the medical community so this gender bias can be eliminated. Recognizing the stereotypes placed on women is crucial for physicians to make a change. Late detection of cancers, missed diagnoses of heart disease, and prescribing sedatives instead of pain medication all contribute to the detrimental health outcomes many women face. It is important for physicians to educate themselves and become advocates for their female patients in order for any progress to be made.

[@demenes1541]

can anyone find the studies she's talking about because I cant it seems like a bias stance to me

[@sneakyredtomato76]

demenes Ok boomer

[@deandrerawls65]

Calm down boomer

[@jadelyn8829]

ok boomer

[@chandracropper8104]

I'm sorry I didn't hear the part were she helped anyone....

[@demenes1541]

I would damn sure like to look at the studies shes trying to quote because as someone who works in the medical field I don't see it

[@michellecedrone2425]

demenes I know Colene personally. She’s an incredible doctor and if you give her some time to respond I am sure she will be happy to cite her sources.

[@rebekahbrooks5353]

Ok boomer

[@butchcowboy_]

Ok boomer

[@caelyn_rose1102]

ok boomer

[@sneakyredtomato76]

demenes OK BOOMER

[@samtc26]

This was a joke......who actually took this seriously....the studies she states dont exist i looked at all gender bias studies and medical studies in the last 10 yeara from the Danish countries....its all based on a story a friend told her......this is sad

[@michellecedrone2425]

Sam Childers I know Colene personally. She’s an incredible doctor and if you give her some time to respond I am sure she will be happy to cite her sources.

[@abbyarnold1642]

Ok boomer.

[@callmekaty4817]

Sam Childers ok boomer

[@Juju-jk5fg]

Ok boomer..

[@tamikamarie9073]

ok boomer

[@CameronSmith-mc9ej]

womp womp