

He got progressively more rude and angry. I returned every six months for two years and he always accused me of taking more than I was prescribed. I couldn’t get time off, so my family doc prescribed pain meds so I could get through the day and Xanax for sleep. It’s a good choice for you to make!’ It was clear she didn’t approve of his patronizing attitude either.” ~ Patsy Raney I’ve been using one for years with no problems. He scoffed at my concerns, urged me to stay on the pill, and disputed any potential negative consequences. He reminded me that taking a pill each day was SO much easier than having to be responsible for using the diaphragm properly. It was clear he thought I was too young and clueless to make this decision about my own reproductive health care. Although he tried to dissuade me from switching to a diaphragm, I insisted that’s what I wanted, and he finally fitted me for it. After he left the room, the nurse said, ‘Don’t worry, dear it’s quite easy to use. So I researched other contraceptives and felt the diaphragm was the simplest and safest option for me. When I went to the county clinic to get fitted, I explained what I’d researched to the doctor. I was 23 and I’d been on the pill for 4 years, but I became concerned about potential negative side effects of long-term hormonal manipulation. When I was roused, he insisted that I leave immediately showing no concern about whether I could even make it home safely.” ~ Lonnie Stoner As the gauze was being removed from my nose, I fainted. Afterwards, he was so cruel as to continue his tirade about my cocaine use. Two surgeries later, my septum was removed. I repeatedly assured him that I wasn’t a user. His assumptions caused me pain, humiliation, confusion, and anger. He insisted that I damaged my sinus passages by using cocaine. Many sinus issues later, I consulted an ENT specialist.

I was profiled as a bad mother.” ~ Sheri Ricker I was hassled, shamed, talked down to, and more. I kept telling him no vaccines whatsoever, zero, nada. “I was pressured by our doctor from my son’s birth all the way through grade school. When the ER found the insurance card in my wallet, I was treated like gold.” ~ James Cummings Six weeks ago, I fell while trimming a tree. I went into collections and it took years to pay that one off. I still have distinct black scars people think they’re tattoos. They cauterized my facial wounds rather than stitch me up, and then dumped me on the sidewalk with amnesia. I was taken to the ER and treated like crap because I had no insurance. I felt like my appearance had something to do with it.” ~ Jay Snider “I was once denied pain meds after a fall off a 10-foot porch by the same doc who gave my pretty female friend pain meds after getting two stitches in her finger. For the first time, people share their stories: We rely on doctors to first do no harm–to safeguard our health–but profiling patients often leads to improper medical care, and distrust of physicians and the health care system, with potential lifelong consequences. Like racial profiling by police, patient profiling by physicians is more common than you think. Profiling disproportionately impacts patients with chronic pain, mental illness, the uninsured, and patients of color. Patient profiling is the practice of regarding particular patients as more likely to have certain behaviors or illnesses based on their appearance, race, gender, financial status, or other observable characteristics. Ever felt misjudged by a doctor? Or treated unfairly by a clinic or hospital? You may be a victim of patient profiling.
