October 3, 2025- In healthcare, one size does not fit all. Each patient has a unique and dynamic health background that often requires a tailored approach to addressing their health concerns. While there is an overall foundational approach to treatment options, it needs to be a good fit for the patient. Otherwise, they might be getting treatments that are not necessary, effective, or even worse, could cause further harm to the patient.
A recent report published by the ECRI found that “dismissing patient and caregiver concerns” is at the top of the list of the most significant threats to patient safety in 2025. In a media release regarding the report, ECRI says that “time and resource constraints make it increasingly difficult for some clinicians to provide empathetic care that addresses patient and caregiver concerns, potentially leading to missed and delayed diagnoses.”
This is indicative of a larger problem – a lack of trust between clinicians and patients. ECRI is referring to this phenomenon as medical gaslighting, a term that the American Journal of Medicine has defined as “an act that invalidates a patient’s genuine clinical concern without proper medical evaluation.”
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