Doctors failed to spot my hidden condition for so long I was left permanently disabled
Actor Daneka Etchells is performing in a show which reflects her experiences of "medical gaslighting".
Daneka Etchells, now a performer, endured 17 years of debilitating pain and medical neglect before a diagnosis. Starting at age 12, her heavy periods and excruciating pain went unaddressed by GPs who prescribed ineffective treatments. The condition, endometriosis, only worsened, causing severe nerve and ligament damage that left her permanently disabled.
This experience mirrors the plot of The Secret Garden, which Etchells stars in, where the character Colin is also medically gaslit. The new stage version of the classic explores themes of medical neglect and advocacy, reflecting Etchells' own journey. Doctors often dismiss the symptoms of disabled patients, leading to delayed diagnoses and worsening health outcomes.
Healthwatch England and playwright Tom Wentworth are advocating for better patient advocacy and recognition of medical gaslighting in healthcare systems.
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