She shared 19 years of medical history, then overheard the doctor call her 'weird' as she undressed. Now she’s taking it to the medical board
She messaged the doctor saying she had cancelled her follow-up appointment and wouldn't receive her care anymore
Note: Couldn't find a proper cover of a black woman patient examined by a white doctor so have kept the original.
A woman (@ohhdatsry) was forced to change her physician after she overheard her make derogatory remarks about her while she was in a vulnerable state of pain. She had just recited 19 years of medical history to the doctor, meticulously explaining every detail since her first pregnancy in 2007. While the patient was undressing behind the curtain, she heard the doctor calling her “weird” to the nurse and giggling about it. In an October 10, 2026, Instagram Threads post, she shared that she not only requested a different doctor but also raised a ticket with the medical board. Her experience, liked by 6,900 people, is a powerful example of medical gaslighting and a severe breach of patient-doctor trust.
When a life-saver becomes a bully
The incident happened when the woman visited an obstetrics and gynecology specialist after experiencing pain. Even after she heard the doctor call her “weird” and laugh with the nurse, the woman quietly allowed her to complete the examination.
Once she got home, she cancelled the follow-up appointment and rescheduled with a Black doctor. “I did hear the conversation prior to you and the nurse entering the room,” she messaged the physician, and added, “I don’t plan on reporting or anything as of now, but I cannot continue care with you, as my health is my top priority. Have a day! I’ll reach out to reschedule an ultrasound with someone else in the upcoming week.”
Over to the law
In an update, the woman shared that she has filed a complaint through her insurance app. A nurse guided her, and she will now go to the medical board and refer to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIPAA establishes federal standards on how a patient’s sensitive medical information will be used by physicians to protect them from disclosing or misusing it without the patient’s consent.
Massive breach of trust
Trust is a precious entity. Unfortunately, in the US, the trust between patients and doctors has been decreasing significantly. For instance, according to a survey of half a million responses published in the JAMA Network, trust in physicians and hospitals substantially decreased from 71.5% in April 2020 to 40.1% in January 2024. Some doctors don’t just break trust; they also bully. For example, another study stated that 88% of nurses have witnessed doctors acting like bullies, which often results in compromised patient trust and medical errors. The woman is right to change her choice of physician after the humiliating experience.
This is unforgivable
Viewers were saddened to hear that the one responsible for saving someone’s life ends up hurting them. Many of them advised the woman to report the doctor and not back away. @kaitiebugs09 said, “I am sorry that happened to you. As a nurse, I get so ashamed when I hear stories like this. In nursing school they teach us so much about ethics, the importance of dignity, and patient-centered care so there’s no excuse to not apply that to the field as a medical professional.” @forknchopstx zoomed in on the doctor in the text message conversation and shared her name as Anna Alappat from Charlotte. @sharonabarona remarked, “That's just wildly unprofessional. I would report her.”
You can follow @ohhdatsry on Instagram for updates on this story.
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