Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick

Spot on, and let's have #harmedmetoo to expose just how many women (and men) have been failed by the worldwide psychosomatic/somatization agenda and dogma that refuses to listen to and believe particularly women’s suffering while blissfully ignoring unacceptably high misdiagnosis rates across the board. For too long women have thought that they were just ‘unlucky’ to have been misdiagnosed or ignored by their doctors, or have wondered what they were doing wrong to not be believed about their symptoms.All women should read this book, and any interested fair-minded male partners, husbands, fathers, brothers and sons too. All politicians should be made to read this book. And all prospective medical students should have to demonstrate that they have read this book before they are accepted into medical school. This systemic disregard and abuse of women MUST stop, and we must no longer allow ourselves to be treated as second-class healthcare citizens.On page 100, Maya, by quoting Lipowski, lists some of the derogatory labels that have been applied to those patients, predominantly women, who have been described as having somatization or ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ or ‘MUS’ – “ ‘crocks’, ‘gomers’, ‘turkeys’, ‘hypochondriacs’, ‘hysterics’ and ‘the worried well’ ”. She also draws attention to the notorious ‘heartsink’ branding. Not listed is the expression ‘stomach-churners’ which I suspect could be gaining popularity in the UK since a remark that was made by one GP to ‘qualitative’ researchers was selected by a ‘MUS’ proponent and published in a British GP journal. So entrenched is this prejudice and dogma that female doctors will mete it out on their fellow women patients.And then there is the problem of someone who has presided over the psychosomatic agenda in the UK, seemingly sitting on unacceptably high misdiagnosis rates made evident by their own research while at the same time apparently not especially concerned to see all MUS patients in the IAPT programme labelled with ‘somatization disorder’.I sincerely hope that Maya will come to the UK to investigate the situation here for female patients within the NHS. We desperately need her to build on this great accomplishment. I suspect that there is more than enough material over here for her to write another illuminating book.

Brilliant, reflects my experience exactly. I have PoTS and mast cell activation syndrome probably as a result of dysfunctional collagen from hypermobility spectrum disorder. Had to diagnose myself through online groups and then get recommendations for doctors through the groups etc, it took nigh on 20 years. A copy of this book should be made available to all doctor's. Was repeatedly told it was psychological which is ironic because I work in mental health. The amount of money and time that is wasted through inappropriate referrals to mental health services must be staggering.

This excellent, thoroughly researched book encapsulates the experiences of so many women who struggle to access quality health care. It has taken me 17 years to get a debilitating condition which we now know to be genetic, diagnosed. I had to go private for the privilege. Only a year ago I was told by a GP that my condition was 'somatic' and that I was having a panic attack. I wasn't. The breathing issues, arrhythmias, widespread muscle weakness and poor gait I was experiencing were due to a Chiari Malformation impacting my autonomic nervous system. I am now making several formal complaints and will be sending copies of this book with each of them. This should be a standard text in every medical student's education #harmedmetoo

I was moved to tears by this book – because even though it is a non-fiction, scientific account of how women have been mistreated by the medical system, I was reading for the first time stories that are so similar to my own. I have been recommending it to everyone I know, especially medical professionals! Everyone must read this.

OMG.This book sums up everything I’ve ever thought , said or experienced as a women treated by so called healthcare professionals male or female ( predominantly male) I can only read a page at a time as I get so mad. Well written and gut wrenching. If ever you cared about a woman ever in your life you’d have to read this book. I wish I’d written it but not too ,as it should never have had to have been necessary to write it in the first place. And I wish women the world over were not suffering so much at the hands of those that say that they care for them.