Medical negligence
Why it’s important to advocate for women’s healthcare
Our medical negligence experts share the importance of women understand how to advocate for themselves in a healthcare setting.
According to NHS Resolution, diagnostic errors contribute to approximately 20% of all clinical negligence claims they face. Further to this, research has consistently shown that there are discrepancies between men and women’s healthcare and often, women are left waiting longer for a diagnosis or are receiving the wrong diagnosis.
Research revealed that nearly 1 in 3 (30%) experiencing symptoms of women’s health conditions, including PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis and gynaecological cancers, are yet to receive a formal diagnosis.
Women are not only at risk for delayed and misdiagnosis for women specific issues. The British Heart Foundation shared that a woman is 50% more likely than a man to receive the wrong initial diagnosis for a heart attack.
Principal Lawyer, Nisha Sharma, helped secure a settlement for a mother-of-two who lives with lifelong consequences after medics failed to diagnose her intimate childbirth injuries.
A gender bias in a healthcare setting is still implicit, with women facing their symptoms being downplayed by healthcare professionals. Often reproductive health concerns can sometimes be dismissed or downplayed leading to many waiting weeks, sometimes months for a diagnosis. On average, it can take between 6 to 12 months, and some women may have to see more than three doctors before receiving a diagnosis for PCOS.
How to advocate for yourself
In research conducted by Slater and Gordon, we found that 43% of women have felt ignored when describing their symptoms to a medical professional. These feelings can lead to delayed diagnosis, a misdiagnosis and can even lead women to stop pursuing support for medical conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis. Support for these chronic conditions is crucial as the symptoms impact women day to day.
Advocating for your healthcare is vital, and no one will understand how you feel more than you do. As such, it is imperative that you raise your concerns with a doctor and have them acknowledged even if it feels challenging.
You can advocate for yourself in several ways:
- Ask questions about your diagnosis and what it means,
- Ask a doctor to explain what they mean if you do not understand something they said,
- Speak openly and honestly about your symptoms and treatment plan,
- Share information you feel may be relevant
We are here to help
To address these issues, Slater and Gordon is advocating for women's health. This involves raising awareness among healthcare providers and the general public about gender biases, promoting better listening and communication, and creating an environment where women feel confident to speak up about their health concerns. Our aim is to positively impact the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment decisions for women and promote teaching women how to advocate for their health.
For when you need support in your healthcare journey, we have created a support pack, made of downloadable resources that can help support your journey in advocating for your health. If you believe you have received substandard medical care or have suffered further health issues because of clinical negligence, get in touch with our experts at Slater and Gordon. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.
