article · International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT)
Medical gaslighting occurs within healthcare systems when clinical communication invalidates patients presenting with persistent symptoms. An observational case study at Federal Medical Centre Makurdi gathered accounts of interactions between patients, doctors, and nurses to examine this behaviour in hospital care. The findings reveal that healthcare professionals engage in medical gaslighting, with female patients identified as particularly vulnerable to these communication patterns. Experiencing this dismissive behaviour triggers emotional distress, notably anxiety and depression, and causes patients to lose trust and confidence in healthcare providers. Such interactions often leave individuals feeling confused, angry, worried, and traumatised. The evidence confirms that medical gaslighting is an established issue within Nigerian hospitals, demonstrating that dismissive clinical communication directly compromises patient well-being and undermines faith in medical services.
Communication between healthcare workers and patients fundamentally affects health outcomes. When doctors and nurses dismiss persistent symptoms, patients endure psychological harm, including anxiety and depression, rather than receiving supportive care. Recognising how communication patterns induce emotional trauma helps health systems address institutional dismissiveness, improve patient safety, and restore community trust in clinical services.
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Introduction Gaslighting is a dark psychological strategy that has adverse effect on the gaslightee. Unfortunately, medical gaslighting, a subtype of gaslighting is recognizably reported to be in the healthcare system. This study unravel and draws attention to the undetectable phenomenon of medical gaslighting found used among medical healthcare professionals in their interaction and communication with patients accessing treatment. Aim The study described the observed pattern of clinician’s communication with patients that characteristically represents medical gaslighting of patients presenting with their perceived persistent symptoms of ill-health in the hospital. Method The study used a case study observational research method. It is a naturalistic method of data collection on incidents of medical gaslighting in Federal Medical Centre Makurdi. The information gathered was on clinicians’ pattern of communication and patients’ narratives of their experience with doctors and nurses. Results The findings showed that medical gaslighting is used by healthcare professionals in the healthcare settings. Female patients are more vulnerable to medical gaslighting. Patients who are medically gaslighted are found to experience emotional disorders such as anxiety, and depression leading to their loss of trust and confidence in the healthcare service providers. Conclusion Medical gaslighting has long been happening in the Nigerian hospitals and many doctors and nurses are culprits of it during service delivery to patients. This in some casesleaves gaslighted patients, confused, worried, angry, and traumatized and to some extent they began to suffer some kinds of emotional disorders.
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DOI: 10.38124/ijisrt/25nov915
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