2023 ABIM Foundation Forum Patient Video
October 19, 2023
Lydia, Hannah, Sondra, and Sherrie share first-hand accounts of the consequences of medical misinformation and mistrust, and offer a glimpse into what happens when communication, empathy, and transparency are lacking while navigating health care.
- Lydia: After initially questioning vaccines, Lydia decided not to vaccinate her children due to online forum advice, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, she researched and reversed her decision, enrolling in nursing school to help others navigate health care choices.
- Hannah: Despite experiencing various health issues as a child, Hannah’s doctors couldn’t diagnose her until she was severely anemic and hospitalized, eventually revealing she had Crohn’s disease. Her surgeon initially refused to consider other conditions until evidence of endometriosis was discovered during a related surgery.
- Sondra: Sondra faced frustration and anger when her primary care physician’s office failed to provide promised referrals, which she believed may have been influenced by racial biases affecting her healthcare experiences.
- Sherrie: Sherrie’s dream of opening a horse rescue was impacted when medical complications and septic shock led to extensive hospital bills, pushing her into bankruptcy and leaving her unable to afford health insurance or necessary follow-up care