Do words matter? Stigmatizing language and the transmission of bias in the medical record.
P. Goddu A, O’Conor KJ, Lanzkron S, et al. Do words matter? Stigmatizing language and the transmission of bias in the medical record. J Gen Intern Med. 2018;33(5):685-691. doi:10.1007/s11606-017-4289-2.
Clinical notes with stigmatizing language may negatively impact a patient’s current and future diagnosis and treatment. This study randomized medical students and residents to read a simulated case note with either neutral or stigmatizing language. The students and residents who read the neutral note had a more positive view of the patient and were more aggressive with pain treatment than those reading the stigmatizing language.