The impact of women’s chronic pain
At the Newcastle Writers Festival, the panel discussion How Our Bodies Shape Us, featuring writers Gabrielle Jackson and Lee Kofman, delved into the issue of women’s chronic pain. The conversation exposed the systemic failures within the medical profession and its ongoing neglect of women suffering from chronic conditions.
In her book Pain and Prejudice: A Call to Arms for Women and Their Bodies, Jackson discusses how the medical profession fails women with chronic conditions, as their pain often goes undiagnosed for years or is dismissed as “all in the head.”
Jackson explains that a key reason chronic pain is poorly understood is that most sufferers are women. She notes that when women seek medical help, they are often seen as complainers. Additionally, societal expectations pressure women to endure pain—from menstrual cramps to childbirth. By normalising this suffering, she argues, society has subjected women to years of unnecessary pain, and inaction only perpetuates it.
Unfortunately, at Catherine Henry Lawyers, we too often see the consequences of substandard healthcare. Many women who have received inadequate medical treatment turn to us seeking justice, wanting their voices heard and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Our health law team focuses on women’s health because, as Jackson pointed out, women are the biggest users of our medical system. The team at Catherine Henry Lawyers has seen how misdiagnoses can not only subject a patient to years of suffering but can also lead to death.
The cost of misdiagnosis
Jackson shared the tragic story of Naomi Williams, a 27-year-old Wiradjuri woman who was 22 weeks pregnant with a son when she died of septicaemia at Tumut Hospital. The inquest revealed that she had made 20 visits to the hospital and consulted several doctors about her pain in the seven months leading up to her death.
In a case brought before the Supreme Court of NSW due to improper sepsis treatment, Catherine Henry Lawyers successfully sought damages for our client, who was misdiagnosed with gastroenteritis. Experts engaged in this matter found that our client was actually suffering from an acute bacterial bloodstream infection at the time of discharge, putting her at high risk of harm, including death, if her condition remained undiagnosed and untreated. By the time IV antibiotics were finally administered, she had gone into septic shock and experienced multiorgan failure.
How legal action can improve healthcare practices
It’s not surprising that women with chronic pain conditions report a reduction in pain when they find a doctor they can trust—one who doesn’t simply dismiss their symptoms and can investigate a proper diagnosis.
Taking legal action can not only secure compensation for victims but also help bring about changes in healthcare practices. Holding medical professionals accountable ensures that others do not have to experience what you went through.
Looking for an experienced medical negligence lawyer? Contact Catherine Henry Lawyers
Our health and medical lawyers have extensive experience in all types of medical negligence cases, including those involving misdiagnosis of women’s chronic conditions. In addition to our team’s collective expertise, we enlist a Medico-Legal Associate who is both a qualified doctor and lawyer. Their dual expertise allows us to ask the right questions and uncover critical issues more quickly and effectively than other firms.
If you or a loved one has experienced medical negligence or feel you are not receiving the right medical treatment, it is essential to seek legal support. To confidentially discuss your options and find out how we can help, call 1800 874 949 or complete the contact form below.
