Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast cancer specialist, discusses the pervasive issue of women apologizing for seeking medical care and advocates for change in her book "All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today." She highlights the historical diminishment of women by the medical establishment, which continues to affect women's health care today, leading to misdiagnoses, delayed diagnoses, and dismissal of symptoms.
The Texas Supreme Court is set to hear a legal challenge to a state law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, which prohibits doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. The law, passed by Republican lawmakers, has sparked a legal battle as families argue it violates parental rights and discriminates against transgender children. This case reflects a broader national debate over access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth, with similar legal battles unfolding in other states.
Esther Hollander shares her experience with lipedema, a connective tissue disease that causes abnormal fat buildup in the lower extremities. Lipedema, often misdiagnosed as obesity, affects 1 in 72,000 people, mostly women. Hollander's struggle with weight and the societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards took a toll on her self-esteem. After years of unsuccessful diets and weight fluctuations, she discovered she had lipedema, which explained the rapid growth of fat in her lower body. The condition is resistant to traditional diet and exercise, but surgical intervention and other treatments can help alleviate symptoms and improve mobility. Hollander emphasizes the importance of medical professionals taking lipedema seriously and not dismissing it as a result of obesity.
Anna Acosta, Chief Operations Officer of WeAccel and host of the Smart City Diaries podcast, shares her experience of medical discrimination and bias when seeking treatment for a herniated disc. Despite having good health insurance, doctors refused to believe her symptoms and delayed her diagnosis and treatment. Anna believes that biases are inherent in the medical system, starting from medical school, and that doctors are often overworked to the point where empathy is lost. She advocates for a kinder medical system that prioritizes patient care and addresses biases.
