Why Doctors Don't Listen To Black Women 

I've had my pain dismissed by medical professionals for over a decade. When I found out this happened to so many women and women of colour I was so angry and decided I was going to be a doctor. I changed career and will be starting medical school in September.

Omg yes. I had a blinding headache and went into the er. I worked all day but I felt like I could die. I told them my symptoms and they thought I wanted drugs. So they had me wait for 5 hours. Finally I get a bed and the dr said “wow it sounds like you googled viral meningitis and are just saying you have those symptoms. Because if you had viral meningitis you’d be screaming in pain and there’s no way you’d have gone to work” I said okay and apologized to him. They did a spinal tap to and I quote “prove to me I am fine”. 20 minutes later 3 nurses and 2 new drs come in with 4 different drugs and an iv and rushed me to the icu. I had viral meningitis. He couldn’t even come apologize. If it had been bacterial meningitis I could have lost limbs or died. You can’t win. If you don’t show your pain you’re told it’s all fine. If you cry or show pain they roll their eyes and tell you to “calm down”.

I've went off on and reported my fair share of doctors. I've had a lot of health problems. I've refused care. Once I banned a doctor from my hospital room. I'm 52 yrs old and I learned you have to be your own patient advocate.

I had a friend in school (she is black) start screaming in pain because of a “headache” her roommates got her to the hospital as the WHITE MALE doctor tried to convince her that she was going through drug withdrawals. She called her mom and her mom demanded that they gave her an MRI and they discovered she was suffering from an aneurism erupting. She was hospitalized for months and had to withdraw out of university for all the days she’d missed. I sometimes imagine what if her mom didn’t put her foot down and the doctor had just sent her away for “drug withdrawals”

sad thing is more black doctors wouldn’t necessarily make this issue disappear as there are too many stories of black doctors also mistreating their black patients based on racist biases that they had. this is the type of issue that affects predominantly black women but isn’t just done by white doctors.

I’m so glad this is being addressed. I am in nursing school now, but was previously a healthcare paraprofessional with little to no direct patient contact much less patient care and I saw it. I did the best that I could for everyone of color with charting, so at least their records indicated what they were complaining of or wanted/needed. I cannot feasibly count the times that charts weren’t updated and conditions or incidents like hypertension, previous seizure, AIDS, etc. were not taken into account until someone like myself mentioned that the patient had the condition. These patients would be pleading with providers and other staff to read their charts, knowing it was previously documented. It’s a hideous problem and it needs to be sorted out- now. I’m sorry for the times I couldn’t do more.

Dealing with allot of health issues at the moment and I’m sick and tired of there first assumption being am I pregnant no that’s not the problem 😂😂😭😭😭

Here is all I got to say.....doctors...wether im purple, black, orange or rainbow... DO YOUR JOB AS YOUR SUPPOSED TO

I’m trying to be a nurse and I promise to be aware of this and speak up whenever I can.

Ladies, it’s VERY important to hold these doctors responsible and accountable to receive the proper care that we deserve. Before you go to your appointments make sure that you do your research, ask questions and get a second opinion.

They didn’t even mention the financial costs of bad care. Multiple doctors, wasted time, wasted opportunity cost, extended hostipal stays are expensive and it adds another layer to the inequality. When these individuals and many other BPOC who are having experiences like this are given subpar care due to their race it costs more money to the insured and it costs them more money then it otherwise would have if they had just been listened to and been given equal care as their White counterparts.

They don’t! My Dr. WOULD not take my IUD out despite my uncommon, unrelated symptoms.

I'm a latina woman, and I had suffered pain in my abdomen and lower ribcage when I was 17-18. For a year and a half, I would wake up some days, in excruciating pain. I went to the doctor twice, and both of them told me I was pregnant. Also going straight to my parents (who drove me there because my pain had me crying) to tell them. Of course, all of us were angry. My parents at me, and me at the doctors. I'm a closeted pan woman, and so far, I had only semi-dated a non binary fem. (My partner and I never really sat down and talked about it. Plus, we never did anything!) I'm sorry for calling them fem, but there was no way on earth that I was pregnant. Fast forward a few months, guess what? My parents realized I'm not pregnant, and stopped being angry at me. I'm 26 now, and I have never gone to the doctors again since. I also don't tell my parents about anything, because of how they treated me during that time. Doctors who treat PoC like this, don't deserve their jobs. And these stories make me want to cry. It's so painful.

This is real this is how we get treated

This scares me so much as a black woman. Realising that I could be in a situation that I would need a doctor and not being able to get proper help😞 This is so sad the fact this happens to many Black women all over the world😢

enough is enough. this video made me cry. i can't imagine being in that position. i've been discriminated against for my accent and where i come from and being a woman, i still can't imagine how painful it is to go through these things. I bet robots could do a better job.

As a black woman we are disproportionately affected by both factors. We are not staging that women of other nationalities and ethnicities do not experience the same issues. This video is highlighting our unique experience. Please refer to the statistics of you don’t believe these women’s experiences that are being displayed here. It’s so disheartening. All women matter. Black women matter also.

Glad to know this is being talked about more. ‼‼‼‼‼💖💖💖

As a young woman, I’ve experienced several occasions where my pain was dismissed by adults and doctors. I can’t even imagine how much worse this would have been if I was a woman of color. My boyfriend just started med school this month and I hope a new generation of doctors can bring about proper change.

It's terrible that people are so unfair to black lives. How can people be so terrible about a *pigment* in the skin!?

"Come back after a couple miscarriages?" The $>@#!? I'm so sorry you had to hear that from a medical "professional. " I'm livid. Thank you all for sharing your stories. Im sorry you had to go through this crazy treatment.

Last week I went to the doctor for debilitating period pain, when the nurse asked me to describe my pain and I said "it feels like someone is scraping my insides with a cheese grater" the male nurse laughed in my face

This is heartbreaking to hear that Black peoples' pain is not being honored and this shows how impt it is to have culturally congruent care thank you for sharing such an important message

As a brown foreigner I can confidently say that it is the norm to receive awful medical care. I can only imagine how much worse it could be if I wore darker skinned

Black women… we struggle so much. I struggled being listened to as well. I wish we could find some relief or be treated like women for once.

I am Mexican and I have similar issues of doctor ignoring my pain for years. I ended up having 3 ovarian cyst and 1 was the size of a grapefruit. I went to an ER outside my provider who helped me to get the surgery I needed. Even till this day doctors continue to say that I am fine, even when they find something like my hernia that I still have 2 years later.

I'm from Trinidad and Tobago. I find it funny how we're not considered to be a developed country, yet my mom had a far better birthing experience there than in the U.S. The nurses (at Staten Island University Hospital in case anyone was wondering) literally joked about forgetting about my mom while she was in labor because she was so quiet.

I feel like my doctor doesn't listen to me either. I've had so many bad experiences. I've given up with doctors.

"Come back after a couple miscarriages" Wow, I am blown away at the treatment all these women faced. It is disgusting!

I'm glad y'all made this video to shed light on this type of medical discrimination because not all the time is it blatant but when you know, you know. I've been struggling with PCOS and Chronic Pain for the longest and every other doctor I went to either blamed it on me being overweight or said that I was being dramatic. I was able to find a really nice black OB/GYN near me and she gave me what I needed for my PCOS but I still fail to find a primary care physician that will take me seriously with the pain I feel day to day because ibuprofen, Aleve, all that jazz, doesn't work for me. But until they see the day I come in there with tear stained eyes and having to curse somebody out or something, will they ever take me seriously. A damn shame.

This is all true! I always had Caucasian doctors & they would all disregard my complaints and brush it off! It took me years, before I finally got an Indian doctor & she took my complaints seriously! IT’s because of her, that I found out I had a Brain malformation affecting my organs, as well as cystitis & fibrocystic breasts. I’m doing extremely well. I’m active and keep up with my meds. My life has done a 360 😇 We need to re-educate Caucasian doctors to treat everyone the same and to take everyone seriously! We shouldn’t be treated differently based on the color of our skin 👌

this is making me so livid that people who are medical professionals not taking their patients who pay them seriously. this video is lowkey making me (a dance major) want to go into the medical field so no person has to be treated this way. like you can't do that. they are still a person who needs proper treatment!!!

In the throes of it now! Going on my 3rd doctor and praying they will listen!

I liked the video, but can you just link the studies referenced in the video in the description?

Everyone is saying that it's not just black women etc but I think people need to realise that is not one incident.This is not one doctor,rather a serious pattern of bias towards black women regarding symptoms especially pain.Ofcourse we know we aren't doctors that's why we go to them but when it is overlooked with some serious symptoms of course people will be mad. Edit I'm not saying this doesn't happen to multiple other people because a experience is a bad experience

It’s really sad because we need the same services as everyone else and they still be discriminating us as people; which is why we need more black people in medical services.

Canada is just as bad! As an Aboriginal woman I had some bad experiences with my last two children being born. I understand when you say you feel like a burden because the doctors just don't make you feel like your life is important.

This happened to me when I was delivering my son. It was the most devastating traumatic experience ever! So much so that I never had anymore kids! I was 28 and alone and everything that could go wrong did go wrong but bcus i have a squeaky wheel personality i forced them to hear me! My baby was given bobos not changed and I was breastfeeding. They never gave me a lactation specialist and I was separated from my baby for a week due to infection. It was horrible. At the time, I assumed it was bcus of my insurance bcus my sister in law had a baby 3days b4 me and her husband was a firefighter and she got 5star service. This was 25yrs ago

I have a small nodule under my breast, she said “it should be fine”

I’m working on getting into the medical field. This was so enlightening. I know what to look out for in myself and coworkers. I promise if I get the job someday, I will treat everyone with equal, high quality respect.

People who say this happens to them too and they're not black - of course! Young women trying to get help with women's health issues, people don't take that seriously! Now add being non-white to that. Add being poor. Add being overweight. It all stacks up. It's an issue that affects all women, but black women even more unfairly.

This is why I’m driven to become a naturopathic doctor. Conventional doctors act like they trying to fill quotas just like the police. Actually healing ppl would lose them money. I hate the medical system.

The dismissive arrogance I have experienced through the YEARS among medical personnel makes me livid. I've lost count of the rude exchanges and many insults. Some of the most memorable: "You're uppity"; "Don't believe them, they teach their kids to lie right out of the womb"; "You sound like one of the more educated ones, so maybe this conversation will go a little easier." My mother was in a hospital for five days when the SOCIAL WORKER (not MD) decided it was time for her to leave. I spent all five of those days going back and forth trying to get a diagnosis and answers. I insisted on speaking with the doctors and hospital administrator and was always dismissed. We were in a little southern town and the next major hospital was about 3 hours away. That's when I found out other minorities, who are able, routinely transport their loved ones out of the area for better care. My mother was actively vomiting when the nurse forcibly dressed her and told me we were leaving. Conclusion: I get my mother to another hospital only to find out she had been having a series of strokes while in the care of those idiots. How is a hospital unable to diagnose a stroke?!? Thankfully we are out of that area, but not before they caused permanent damage to my loved one. The medical community shirks its responsibility and then locks ranks to protect its own. I CAN'T BREATHE applies to the MEDICAL PROFESSION, too!!

I have countless stories of being ignored by doctors, especially cuz of my young age. They thought I was overreacting. Then when my point was proven they were looking stupid. One example, I told my 1st PCP abt the severe chronic migraines that I was having that would send me to the ER because my pressure would suddenly go from normal to almost stroke level. He told me I was going "too much". I'm like, so you think I'm lying? Sure enough it happened while in his office and I was blacking out. What did he do? He panicked, handed me over to the nurse, ran out and never returned. He released me as a patient on the phone not long after. So I was stuck w/ no answers & no doctor. He got in big trouble.

I can't explain how much I cried watching this because at any point if you guys didn't find the right doctor any of you could be in a worse predicament than you guys were faced with already. I can't explain how many times I have had nurses give me condescending remarks and tell me it doesn't hurt that much. Or that I got misdiagnosed by a doctor and had to go somewhere else to get diagnosed the right way. I hate that we aren't listened to that we get microaggressions. I hate it so much.

I want Dr. Mike to make a video about this.

As someone who wants to apply to med school in the next few years, this only further cements my reasoning for wanting to go into the medical field. People should be given proper care and attention regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or any other categorization used to discriminate against people. It shouldn't take years to find out you have cancer. It shouldn't take several doctors to properly diagnose someone. You shouldn't have to carefully hand-pick a surgeon so that you can be sure you'll be safe under the knife. I hope that if/when I graduate and start my residency, I will be able to give as unbiased and equal care as possible. I hope I can be a kind doctor that people actually trust, and someone who truly listens and helps patients.

Have to find good black Drs

Another situation when I was first injured I complained about pain symptoms I could not bear to understand while living in Las Vegas. It took over years for a medical doctor to diagnose me with CRPS in Los Angeles. I did not understand so I went to another different doctor to confirm this when I have gone thru so much. It took me going to Los Angeles area pain experts to receive fair medical care from a doctor. Thank God I came across them. One had a long talk to me about the care of CRPS. My God this seems so unfair to find out that if I had proper medical care within first 90-60 days of the injury. I would not be in this long length of pain.

05:45 make me sick to my stomach. I’m so sorry you had to experience that! I’m lost for words 😢

This is so disheartening and awful. This is my experience and I know it all to well. Thanks for the exposing the bias snd injustice that exist in our medical system. Ladies you are valuable and worthy of equitable treatment that may save your life. Sending you all love. 💕💜

As a Hispanic woman...I’ve faced some of the same struggles. Especially being on Medicaid (state health insurance). I’m terminally ill now and doctors tend to take me more seriously since they don’t want to be responsible for my death 😒

This has been my experience and it very nearly cost me my life and still now its costing me quality of life! Even today I've had to deal with medical negligence.

I’ve had similar experience. It’s mind boggling to realize your doctor doesn’t car our believe you

I’m so sick & tired of the people who are paid to protect us don’t!!! Doctors for our well being & cops for our safety. 🤬

I’m 5 months pregnant. I call my nurse and tell them I’m experiencing cramps. She tells me to take Tylenol. Ok but won’t take the time to get me examined before telling me to take medicine. I do Evs and I’m being pushed to do Covid rooms. Which I feel like no pregnant women should be forced to do any isolation room including Covid. I don’t care how long it was sitting.

I am a Black female and the WORST doctor I have EVER had was a Black female OB-GYN!

I’m a black woman, and I’m a doctor. Even though my own doctors know that I’m their colleague, they still ignore many of my concerns. It is remarkably unbelievable to experience. For the past three years, I’ve had to aggressively advocate for my health…with my own colleagues…including those who work in the same department and know me well!!!

I wish they listed the people who gave this video a thumbs down so I could troll them for the next year.

I remember going to an urgent care sometimes. The doctor C. was always professional, but some of the staff members (especially the one worked the front desk) were very rude and unprofessional. She made it a point to announce whatever was wrong with me super loud to where everyone in the office could hear. In addition, there were times where I would go in there for Std screenings or chronic yeast infections, and they would give me such a hard time as if they were paying for it. One doctor had the audacity to ask me if I slept around with random men and after he checked me down there, told me I needed to shave and “Put your clothes on, NOW.” Now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the professionalism in the doctors office because that was totally out of line even though they tried to make me believe that was appropriate behavior. Also, absolutely nothing wrong with being careful! There are people who are sexually active and spreading diseases without going to the doctor at all.

Thank you for this. This is so important. I too have had countless experiences with medical personnel and doctors in this same vein. I hope videos like this continue to shed light on the issue and lead to better medical outcomes for black women, people of color, and women in general. Thank you.

Here in California, we have Medi-Cal. A majority of those who have are minorities. You have to be extremely lucky to get a DECENT doctor with it. I’ve gone through list of hundreds (literally) of doctors that barley have 3 star reviews. Patient have countless stories of malpractice, rudeness, and even death with Medi-Cal doctors. Unless you’re making 6 figures, you’re not going to get quality healthcare.

I'm happy all these women ended up getting the care they deserved. As a black woman myself I want to enter the medical field and treat other black patients the right way.

This video isn't saying that no one else has had a bad doctor experience but bringing up the other layer of what happens to black people and black women specifically that the bias and the stereotypes play a role in misdiagnoses and microaggressions that other people might not have to go through as much as black women. Now considering the medical field was mostly built for Europeans one example being the BMI chart. Then the fact that back in the day the expiermented on black women and saying our skin was thicker and other medical myths it still affects us today. You can find studies about the high rate of black women or other POC dying at larger rate when it came to birthing and how many black babies have not survived during birthing or dying from medical error. Also there was the time in history of where black women were given hysterectomies they didn't need. Plus the simple fact some doctors don't give us the proper medication because they think we want stronger drugs because we are pill poppers/ drug addicts. All of those things are still being taught in the medical field to non POC and to POC which is very disheartening and makes you feel alone. Like alot if the doctors I have seen that were mostly white were dismissive and when it came down to their other patients who were white they seemed more invested and friendlier. Like I'm not saying their racist but they are biased to their patients. Me and my mom had the same doctor for a couple years and this doctor who tell us everytime that we had an attitude, dismissed us, and wouldn't listen to when we expressed discomfort. Now this same doctor had a white patient before me in the waiting room and the doctor seemed to be a totally different person when talking to that patient.

The doctors that I currently have missed fill out rx on medical supplies. I have had to go make 3 appointments for over the past 3 months for the same 2 things. The doctor does not fill out the paper work correctly so the medical supplies would be covered by medical insurance. I have complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 its always most often ignored by a provider who lack the medical knowledge of treatment and the spread. I strongly believe its because I am black. Where do black women find quality medical care. Especially for CRPS!!!!

Absolutely disgraceful these poor women 😪 I hope they pressed charges or reported these ignorant staff to the Medical board. I hate to think people are not being treated for Covid with care.

I only go to black doctors!! Once a doctor makes me uncomfortable, I do not return to that doctor. You can always report the doctor and their office. I’m praying that future wakes up, I’m in disbelief this is still happening in 2020.

I feel bad for y'all. I have a doctor who always listens to me. She cares deeply of all her patients and sees us all as her own children.

BOY do I have some stories for YOU! First story: I have a rare skin condition called steatocystoma multiplex, and I was seeing one of the many doctors about it to seek treatment options as they sometimes form into painful cysts. This female Dr. in particular said to me, “are you just concerned with this because you can’t wear bikinis?” 😮 Second story: I have a paralyzed vocal cord due to an accidental injury made by my surgeon during a PDA heart surgery when I was only 2 days old. So, at 14 I see an ENT with the most outdated examination methods who inserted a scope into my nose with NO NUMBING MEDS, against my mother’s wishes. I could go on and on, but let’s just say that some of my hospital visits have caused me emotional harm BIG TIME. 😖

It is so sad to hear these things i wish things get better, wish us women get treated with respect and love.

Today I learned: The British Queen’s handbag is a body language communication device.

I hate being black going to the Doctor, but I know I have to stay on top of my overall health. So I go every year.

This is so sad but great information to know and get out there.

Why do they always love to blame it on stress?

These stories were heartbreaking!

Women’s healthcare in the USA needs an overhaul. After 40 yrs of battling ptsd alone I reached out for help. I did the right thing however with doctors that ceased all my accomplishments as a scholar, mother, and woman. Cannot imagine what black women most go through it’s such bs.

I know I'm late to this video but currently I been to 8 doctors about a femur fracture surgery and I'm in so much pain. I haven't gotten an help. It's ridiculous how they treat black women.

This has been my life story the past 2 1/2 years. I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall and by now I'm fed up and of course by now anyone would be upset of being ignored. Doctors continue to either talk over me or pretend to understand and treat me for something I don't even have.

Thank you for allowing these women to speak their truth💕

I haven't gasped this hard and this much from shock and disgust since the heavier movement of the BLM 2020. I am so relieved to hear these few stories ended on a better note, but I cannot fathom the idea of others who weren't as lucky. My heart goes out to them; my ferocious rage will burn for them.

Im going through this at the moment. I’m furious. My job sees me as a work mule. My psychiatrist sees me as a insurance charge and my spine specialist is not addressing my concerns. I now understand that they think black women don’t feel pain and don’t care when we aren’t convenient for rhem

Dang... this is intense... it makes me wonder if I should even give birth in America now...

In the absence of racial differences you get discrimination based on wealth. These same issues exist in Africa.

I thought about going to college for months after I graduated. I didn't think I had enough ambitions to pursue being in the medical field. But I realized how Black representation is needed when it comes to healthcare, and how I should have bigger dreams and choose not to settle. I was accepted into my dream college, Nassau Community & now I'm a Bio major studying at 18 :)

I've had issues with doctors too. Now I go to women (the best were 2 older white women and an older Indian lady). The most important thing is to meet them and see if you trust them....but I tend to stick with female doctors over 40😅🤷🏾‍♀️.

Finally this is a big problem😢!!! I had a horrible experience it became hard for me to get appointments with hospitals or many places because of my accent I had to get a friend who is white to make my appointments for me I had to do speech therapy now I sounds like a British woman 😪😪

We need more black doctors & nurses !!!! This is despicable

It’s time to start recording while in hospital

I already don't want kids, but knowing what other black women experience with their general health and especially pregnancy, this is one more reason not to. Black women are much more likely to die in childbirth because of this mentality and it's vile.

Its so crazy how the lady with fibroids dealt with this for more than 5 years.

Thank you ladies for sharing with us! We will be heard!!✊🏿

Amazing video!

I feel like my skull is caving in and I'm only into the first 6 seconds

Wow This stuff shouldn't be happening. I know what it's like to not be listened to as a woman. And the stress and health issues that it can bring. Child with disabilities and work accident ending up in wheelchair. Your stories [ truths] about institutional racism was upsetting. and opened my eyes. I do hope you ladies are now blessed with good lives and health. Thank you for telling your experiences.

Thank you for this video 💕

It sucks but I have never found a great doctor!! It’s unfortunate that you have to be a super duper advocate for yourself. Not taking away from your experiences at all. But I’m not back and I have had similar experiences too. The better doctors I have had, have terrible bedside manner but they know there stuff! It sucks bad that it seems you can’t have it all!

It kind of is a sad truth that black people are sometimes unfairly stereotyped or marginalised when it comes to certain forms of healthcare. Countless black people have died at the hands of white people but when a black nurse makes an honest mistake the stigmatisation they face never really goes away.

What horrifying stories. I was a nurse for 34 years and the mistreatment you all experienced is a disgrace.

I try not to even go to the doctor. I’m so sick then making rude, stupid comments. I’m like, “They get paid GOOD MONEY to treat people like THAT!?!?! What a crime.

This is so sad to hear. 😔