Daneka Etchells began experiencing severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding at age 12, but repeated visits to her general practitioner yielded little assistance despite being prescribed hormonal contraception. Over the following years, her condition deteriorated significantly without proper medical intervention or diagnosis. Eventually, endometriosis—a condition affecting one in 10 women—was identified, but by that time the disease had progressed extensively across nerves and ligaments connected to her legs. Following removal surgery, Etchells was left with permanent nerve damage and mobility limitations. The diagnostic delay lasted 17 years in her case, though on average such diagnoses take nine years.
Etchells describes her experience as “medical gaslighting,” a term referring to healthcare providers dismissing or invalidating patient concerns, causing individuals to doubt their own pain and symptoms. A turning point came when she consulted a female general practitioner who prescribed medication and referred her to a specialist. During a significant career moment performing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London, Etchells realized her condition had made continued work unsustainable. She subsequently required six months away due to severe pain, fatigue, mobility challenges, and bladder and bowel complications that confined her to her home for extended periods. Unable to obtain timely NHS treatment, she pursued private excision surgery through fundraising and negotiation.
Etchells’ experience resonates with themes in a newly adapted stage version of The Secret Garden, developed by playwright Tom Wentworth. The original 1911 novel concludes with the disabled protagonist Colin miraculously cured and able to walk. Wentworth’s adaptation reflects a different reality: Colin remains disabled but gains language and support to advocate for himself. Wentworth, who identifies as queer and disabled, has personally encountered medical attribution errors where healthcare providers attribute his symptoms to cerebral palsy rather than conducting thorough diagnostic evaluation.
According to Healthwatch England, experiences of medical dismissal occur frequently, particularly among young people, women, and LGBTQ-identifying individuals. The organization reports these groups feel less heard by healthcare professionals compared to others. Conditions including ADHD and endometriosis are commonly associated with delayed diagnosis and medical gaslighting. Healthwatch England has advocated for NHS complaints system reforms to expedite patient responses, while the NHS recently implemented Martha’s Rule, enabling patients or their representatives to request urgent review if health conditions deteriorate. Government officials have acknowledged medical gaslighting as a documented barrier, particularly for endometriosis patients, and have outlined commitments to ensure respectful, high-quality care for all patients including disabled individuals.
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