Gender bias in healthcare has a long and troubling history that continues to affect patient care today. Women’s symptoms are often dismissed as emotional or psychological, their pain is frequently undertreated or attributed to stress, and conditions that primarily affect women have historically received less research attention and funding.
From the exclusion of women from clinical trials to persistent stereotypes that lead to different treatment approaches based on a patient’s gender rather than their medical needs, gender bias in healthcare can have dangerous effects. Misdiagnosis, delayed care, and preventable death are only some of the potential risks. The experienced Oxbryta injury attorneys at Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC are prepare to assist if you or a loved one have been harmed by a dangerous medical treatment.
Women’s Symptoms Are Often Dismissed or Minimized
When you walk into a doctor’s office as a woman, you may face an uphill battle to have your concerns taken seriously. Medical professionals often attribute women’s symptoms to stress or “being dramatic,” rather than investigating potential underlying medical conditions. This dismissive attitude can delay proper diagnosis and treatment for serious health issues.
Heart disease is one example of this bias. Women experiencing heart attacks frequently present different symptoms than men—such as nausea, fatigue, or jaw pain—rather than the classic chest pain. However, because medical training has historically focused on male presentations of disease, healthcare providers may not recognize these symptoms as cardiac events in women. This leads to delayed treatment and worse outcomes for female patients.
Doctors may also minimize chronic pain conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as fibromyalgia or endometriosis. They may suggest that your pain is psychosomatic or recommend lifestyle changes rather than pursuing comprehensive diagnostic testing or effective treatment options.
Mental Health Concerns Overshadow Physical Symptoms
Healthcare providers sometimes attribute women’s physical complaints to mental health issues. If you are a woman reporting symptoms like fatigue, pain, or digestive issues, you may be told it’s “just stress” or recommended to see a psychiatrist before receiving a proper medical workup.
This tendency to psychologize women’s symptoms stems from historical beliefs about female “hysteria” and the perception that women are more emotional or prone to psychological distress. While mental health is certainly important and should never be stigmatized, using it as a default explanation for physical symptoms prevents proper medical care.
Autoimmune diseases, which affect women at much higher rates than men, are particularly susceptible to this bias. Conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis, or some thyroid disorders can cause symptoms that fluctuate and may seem vague initially. When you report these symptoms, providers might suggest antidepressants or anxiety medications rather than conducting the specialized testing needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Limited Research and Treatment Options for Women’s Health Issues
Medical research has historically excluded women from clinical trials, creating gaps in our understanding of how diseases and treatments affect female patients. Until 1993, the FDA did not require the inclusion of women in clinical trials. This means that decades of medical knowledge were based primarily on male subjects.
This exclusion affects women in multiple ways. Medications may not work as effectively in women due to differences in metabolism, hormone levels, and body composition. Side effects that predominantly affect women may not be identified during testing phases. Dosing recommendations developed for men may be inappropriate for women, leading to either inadequate treatment or dangerous overmedication.
Conditions that exclusively or primarily affect women—such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or pregnancy-related complications—have received disproportionately little research funding and attention. If you suffer from these conditions, you may find limited treatment options and encounter providers who lack comprehensive knowledge about your condition.
Gender Bias Contributes to Negligence and Death
The most serious consequence of gender bias in healthcare is preventable death. When your symptoms are dismissed, minimized, or misattributed to psychological causes, life-threatening conditions may go undiagnosed and untreated. For example, cardiovascular disease kills more women than any other condition, yet women are significantly more likely to be misdiagnosed during heart attacks.
Medical negligence cases increasingly reveal patterns of discrimination where women’s concerns were repeatedly dismissed before serious complications or death occurred. The systemic nature of this bias means that even when individual healthcare providers have good intentions, institutional practices and training may perpetuate discriminatory patterns. This creates an environment where medical negligence can occur without adequate accountability or oversight.
Justice for Women Affected by Dangerous Medications Like Oxbryta
Defective medications can also affect women, especially when pharmaceutical manufacturers fail to adequately warn patients and providers of the risks associated with the drugs in question. Oxbryta, a medication for sickle cell disease that was recalled due to safety concerns, is one example of this pervasive danger.
Oxbryta (voxelotor) was developed to treat sickle cell disease by preventing red blood cells from forming the characteristic sickle shape that causes painful blockages in blood vessels. The medication works by binding to hemoglobin and stabilizing it in an oxygenated state, theoretically reducing the sickling process that leads to vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs).
However, clinical data revealed alarming safety concerns that led to Oxbryta’s global recall. Rather than preventing VOCs, the medication actually appeared to increase their frequency in many patients. This led Pfizer to withdraw the medication from the market in the United States. The European Medicines Agency also recommended suspending the medication’s authorization after registry studies demonstrated higher rates of VOCs during treatment compared to pre-treatment periods.
Patients who suffered serious complications or lost loved ones due to Oxbryta may have grounds for legal action. Oxbryta lawsuits allow victims to hold the pharmaceutical company accountable for the harm they have suffered. If you or a family member experienced worsening symptoms, hospitalization, or death due to VOCs while taking Oxbryta, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Discuss Your Legal Options with Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC
Women taking Oxbryta are at risk for preventable VOCs and other serious complications. At Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC, we recognize that gender discrimination in medical care can amplify the dangers of defective medications like Oxbryta, and we are fighting to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for this dual negligence. Contact us at (800) 220-0984 to speak with attorneys who will take your concerns seriously and pursue the compensation you truly deserve.