Tackling Medical Gaslighting in Integrated Care: Employing Ethics and Equity Through Education and Advocacy

Background: Medical gaslighting is the latest health equity opportunity for integrated care professionals. Shared stories from patients and caregivers include experiences of being dismissed and devalued by providers. Minoritized and marginalized individuals are at highest risk for the negative impact of this experience; particularly older adults, persons of color, women, the LGBTQIA++ community, and persons with visible and invisible disabilities. Ethical principles intersect with education and training gaps, health equity imperatives, and a serious need to evaluate the culture of health and social service delivery.

Addressing Medical Gaslighting by democratizing care planning, delivery, and evaluation is a global population health mandate. To reduce the economic, clinical, and emotional burden of this barrier, communities and health systems must learn how to build cultures of psychological safety and inclusion for all partners in the integrated care process.

This interactive hybrid presentation and panel discussion will blend research with lived patient, caregiver, and professional experiences that highlight medical gaslighting. Attendees will explore the Ethical Equity Advocacy Roadmap as a strategy that can be used by any attendee to identify, intervene, and interrupt medical gaslighting through advocacy, education, and training at any level.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1.Define medical gaslighting and understand patient, caregiver, and practitioner experiences

2.Identify the impact medical gaslighting has on all partners, formal and informal, in integrated care

3.Implement effective strategies to address medical gaslighting in any practice setting or community

Approach: I. Medical Gaslighting Primer: 5 min

1. Population-based Global Impact and Evidence: 20 min
2. Integrated Care Panel Discussion: 20 min
3. Employ the Ethical Equity Advocacy Roadmap: 15

Q & A 10 min (excluded from time)

References: American Psychological Association. (2023). Inclusive language guide (2nd ed.). https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines.pdf

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Durbhakula, S., Fortin, A.H. (2023). Turning Down the Flame on Medical Gaslighting. J GEN INTERN MED 38, 3426–3427 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-023-08302-4

Fink-Samnick, E. (2023). Fink-Samnick, E. & Garrett, M, Chapter 5, Equity + Inclusion = Excellence, in The Ethical Case Manager: Tools and Tactics; Blue Bayou Press

Fraser S. (2021). The toxic power dynamics of gaslighting in medicine. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 67(5), 367–368. https://doi.org/10.46747/cfp.6705367

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