Exploring the Concept of Medical Gaslighting

Is a patient’s concern being overlooked, or is it simply a case of diagnostic uncertainty? In this episode of Within Normal Limits, Dr. Eric Zacharias is joined by Dr. Susan Sgambati, Senior Risk Manager at Copic, to explore the growing concern of medical gaslighting and its impact on patient safety, trust, and outcomes. The conversation examines how clinicians can unintentionally dismiss or minimize a patient's symptoms through cognitive biases, diagnostic shortcuts, communication missteps, and systemic pressures. Dr. Sgambati explains why medical gaslighting is often not intentional, identifies patient populations most vulnerable to experiencing it, and shares practical strategies for recognizing and addressing these behaviors in clinical practice.