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jabberwockie

when will things change?

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

while the book was informative, I wonder how long it will take until things actually change. I believe this should be required reading in medical schools nationwide, and for all health care workers everywhere. just being a female in this world is risky.

Alyssa Tuininga

Great foundational information!

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023

I am super interested in this subject but unfortunately this book didn’t have a ton of new information for me. This book was primarily focused on maternal/fetal medicine. If you don’t know much about the current state of maternal/ fetal medicine in the US this book is well-organized, full of data, and a good sweeping informational. I did really like the writing it was a good balance between information, personal stories, and data.

CBC

Must read for every woman or healthcare professional

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023

It is very hard to read a lot of this book and I will admit there was a fair amount of crying but the perspective and care the author takes with writing on the experiences of women (especially of color) is a must read. For women who are afraid of advocating for themselves and for healthcare providers who need to wake up to both adequate science and compassionate care. Even if you think you are well equipped it is worth it to take the time to either be reminded or check your internal biases. This book should have many more 5 star reviews than it does. I hope it makes it’s way into the hands of those who need it.

ParksideReads

Important Read for Everyone

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021

😤 If this doesn’t make you furious

I’m not sure what will 😫

💪 It’s time to stand up for what’s right

The Pain Gap solidified I’m not alone, by exploring how sexism & racism in healthcare endanger and kill women, especially women of color, in America.

🙅🏻‍♀️I’m aware of this disparity. Many of us are. I’ve suffered from it tremendously. Friends of mine have too. But after reading this book, and the stories of SO MANY other women, the lack of adequate research and the vast absence of empathy in the American health system I’m not mad, I’m furious. I’m screaming mad. Crying hysterically mad… and if you’re a woman, or love a woman, you should be too.

🙅🏻‍♀️This book has content warnings galore. Racism. Sexism. Death. Maternal mortality. Medical trauma. Misogyny. But how could it not? If a nonfiction book is going to even dip a toe into the healthcare industry it wouldn’t be possible not to. Which is why this book is so important to read. Knowledge is power. We must arm ourselves with knowledge in order to stand up for ourselves and advocate for our health… and the heath of all women.

🙅🏻‍♀️Think I’m over exaggerating? Did you know in 1986 a study was conducted on a group of MEN to explore how obesity impacts breast and uterine cancer? For those in the back, men don’t have a uterus.

Hossain has done a fantastic job compiling a ton of information, both through research and anecdotal to tear down the veil and expose the disparities in our health system. She then discusses how to advocate for ourselves, loved ones, and for a real change in the medical industry itself. I do feel there could be a bit of an edit, some chapters do carry on a bit, and for the average reader a cleaner more precise focus would be more effective… but overall this was still a fantastic read that I recommend everyone to add to their TBR.

Thank you @anushayhossain @netgalley & @tillerpress for the eARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

K. Campbell

Required Reading!

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2021

Thank you from every woman who has had her symptoms dismissed as "all in your head" or "exaggeration" or "attention seeking".
I have a post-viral condition similar to Long COVID. It started with a 105 fever; the first doctor I saw insisted that I couldn't still be having symptoms from a virus nearly a year earlier, then tried to brainwash me into believing that I never had that fever, I was imagining things to say I had any physical symptoms. Just "you resent your husband making you work when you want to be a housewife" ... yeah, I spent all that time and money going to law school because I really want to mop floors all day. He refused to see me again until I got a psych evaluation, and when that came back clean, he wanted me to get another and another. When I told him that my symptoms were getting worse and I'd been threatened with losing my job, he said "isn't that what you want?" After that, he labelled it anxiety. When I pushed for a proper diagnosis, he sent me to a doctor who only did AIDS, who deemed that referral "a sick joke"; with Dr. T's name in my records, everyone would assume I had AIDS and be afraid to treat me (at that point, AIDS was still a death sentence).
Eventually, I got a proper diagnosis of Post Viral Syndrome.
A decade later, the lingering symptoms got worse. The doctor my insurance assigned me dismissed my existing diagnosis, and relabelled it Depressed Divorcee. Again, the psych report that there was nothing wrong in my head wasn't good enough, he was going to send me to every psych in the county until one agreed with him.

cindy lookabaugh

Inhumane care is the norm

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2021

All too true of American health care. After a recent neglectful hospital experience as a patient, I found internists and surgeons to be poor communicators non-listeners arrogant with poor interpersonal skills. No patient has a chance here.
American physicians are selected, trained and socialized to be scientists experts technocrats and now computer operators not humanists not caring empathetic or respectful.
It is bad for all; ageism being dismissed for being over 65 is threatening life also.
Signed Cindy Lookabaugh MD MPH
Sad psychiatrist; survived HCA (Horror Care of America) hospitalization.