Bias in Healthcare: What the Research Shows and How to Advocate for Yourself
Many people leave medical appointments feeling dismissed, unheard, or unsure whether their concerns were taken seriously. For marginalized communities, these experiences are not imagined or rare but are well documented in healthcare research.
What the Research Shows
Decades of studies show that women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups experience bias in healthcare, affecting diagnosis, treatment, communication, and health outcomes.
Key findings from the research include:
Symptoms are more likely to be minimized or misattributed.
Women are more likely than men to have pain, fatigue, and chronic symptoms dismissed or attributed to psychological causes, resulting in delayed diagnosis and undertreatment [1][2].Implicit bias affects clinical decision-making.
Research demonstrates that many healthcare providers hold unconscious racial and gender biases, even when they consciously endorse equality. These biases can influence how providers interpret symptoms, communicate with patients, and decide on treatment plans [3][4].Women of color face compounded disparities.
Studies consistently show that women of color, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latina women, experience worse outcomes in maternal health, pain management, and chronic disease care, reflecting both interpersonal bias and structural racism within healthcare systems [5][6].Patients from marginalized groups report higher rates of discrimination.
Large national surveys show that racial and ethnic minorities report significantly higher levels of discrimination in healthcare settings, which is strongly associated with poorer self-rated health and reduced trust in providers [7][8].Bias is systemic, not just individual.
Medical research and education have historically centered white, male bodies, leading to diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines that do not fully reflect how illness presents in women and marginalized populations [9][10].
Importantly, research also shows that providers often underestimate how frequently patients experience bias, creating a gap between patient experience and provider awareness [3][8].
Why This Matters
Healthcare bias has real consequences. It contributes to delayed diagnoses, unmanaged pain, worsening chronic conditions, and increased psychological distress. Repeated invalidation can lead patients to question their own experiences or avoid seeking care altogether.
If you’ve ever left an appointment wondering, “Am I overreacting?” or “Why didn’t they take this seriously?” research suggests these reactions often arise from systemic patterns, not personal failings.
Validating Yourself in the Healthcare System
Self-validation is a critical act when navigating biased systems.
Your bodily experience is legitimate data.
Your concerns deserve attention.
Feeling dismissed is not a sign you are “too sensitive.”
Research supports that lived experience is an essential part of accurate diagnosis and care, especially when standard models fail to account for diversity [9].
How to Advocate for Yourself in Medical Settings
Advocacy doesn’t require confrontation. It often looks like preparation, clarity, and persistence.
1. Prepare and Document
Track symptoms, duration, and how they affect daily life.
Bring written notes to appointments.
Consider bringing a trusted person for support.
2. Use Clear, Functional Language
Helpful phrases include:
“This is interfering with my daily functioning.”
“This has been ongoing despite previous treatment.”
“I’d like this concern documented in my chart.”
Clear documentation can help counter dismissal [4].
3. Ask Questions and Clarify Decisions
“What diagnoses are being ruled out?”
“What are the next steps if this doesn’t improve?”
“Why is further testing not recommended at this time?”
You are entitled to understand your care.
4. Seek Second Opinions
Research supports that second opinions improve diagnostic accuracy, especially in complex or chronic cases [2]. Seeking one is responsible, not disloyal.
5. Name Your Needs
You can say:
“I need more time to discuss this.”
“I don’t feel comfortable proceeding without more information.”
“I’m looking for trauma-informed or culturally responsive care.”
6. Protect Your Energy
You do not have to challenge bias in every moment. Sometimes advocacy means changing providers, filing feedback later, or processing the experience with trusted supports.
Moving Toward More Equitable Care
The research is clear: bias in healthcare is real, measurable, and harmful. Addressing it requires both systemic change and empowered patients.
Advocacy and self-validation are not about being difficult but about survival, dignity, and health.
You deserve healthcare that listens to you, believes you, and treats you as a whole person.
References
Hoffmann, D. E., & Tarzian, A. J. (2001). The girl who cried pain: A bias against women in the treatment of pain. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics.
Samulowitz, A. et al. (2018). Bringing gender into pain research: A systematic review. Pain.
Hall, W. J. et al. (2015). Implicit racial/ethnic bias among health care professionals and its influence on health care outcomes. American Journal of Public Health.
Chapman, E. N., Kaatz, A., & Carnes, M. (2013). Physicians and implicit bias: How doctors may unwittingly perpetuate health care disparities. Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Creanga, A. A. et al. (2014). Racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity. Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Bailey, Z. D. et al. (2017). Structural racism and health inequities in the USA. The Lancet.
Benjamins, M. R. (2012). Race/ethnic discrimination and preventive service utilization. American Journal of Public Health.
Nong, P. et al. (2020). Patient-reported discrimination in health care and health outcomes. Medical Care.
Criado Perez, C. (2019). Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Abrams Press.
Institute of Medicine (2003). Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.
