Advocacy Quote by Michael Bihovsky
““We EDS patients are accustomed to being doctors’ first cases of something in virtually every medical specialty. We’re just as used to being dismissed and sometimes ridiculed by the doctors we pay to take care of us, having to find one who’ll even do the tests we need, and eventually being told we were right (when all we really wanted was to be wrong). This is a special sickness unto itself within the medical world, and is the cause of much of our suffering. Why do a medical test when you can just tell the patient they’re a melodramatic hypochondriac? Now stop asking questions and pay your copay.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Patient Advocacy Talk, 2020
Patients with rare diseases often feel dismissed and must fight for proper diagnosis, leading to extra suffering.
In simple terms: Rare disease patients face dismissal and extra hardship.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for listening and thorough testing.
Themes
dismissal
advocacy
patient empowerment
medical bias
Mood
frustrated
hopeful
determined
Type
advocacy
empathetic
critical
When to use this quote
- specialist consultations
- insurance appeals
- support groups
- patient education
Key Concepts
diagnostic odyssey
systemic bias
patient-provider communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How can clinicians improve listening skills?
- What systemic changes reduce diagnostic delays?
A Different Perspective
Medical professionals may lack knowledge, causing unintentional bias.
