Episode 14: The Real Cause of Medical Gaslighting—It's Not What You Think with guest Dr. Efrat LaMandre
In this episode of the Dr. Eleanor Stein Podcast, we explore the science and lived experience of medical gaslighting with Dr. Efrat LaMandre, also known as Dr. E. What happens when knowledge and protocols cannot explain why patients still feel unwell? Dr. E explains why medical gaslighting happens and how to lessen it.
This conversation blends evidence-based insights with real-world experiences and raises essential questions about the future of care. Instead of rejecting medicine, Dr. E invites us to see it as one tool among many—and to ask ourselves what it means to listen to the body truly.
In this conversation, you will discover the following:
• What was the turning point that changed Dr. E’s entire approach to health care?
• Why do protocols work for certain diseases yet fall short for those with complex chronic conditions?
• Could your symptoms of “I don’t feel good-itis” be part of a larger pre-disease state?
• What does a leaking toilet have to do with understanding medical limitations?
• How can patients validate their own symptoms without waiting for external approval?
• What simple phrase can clinicians use that shifts everything for patients who feel dismissed?
(04:48) Realizing unintentional medical gaslighting in practice
(07:10) How diet and functional approaches changed Dr. E’s perspective
(11:03) Mission to end medical gaslighting, especially for women
(12:33) Defining medical gaslighting clearly
(20:16) The leaky toilet metaphor: limits of conventional medicine
(28:05) How funding and pharma shape medical protocols
(35:05) Advice for women who feel dismissed but not “sick enough”
(41:00) “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”
(42:11) Why hearing “I believe you” matters for patients
(47:44) Final message: don’t give up, find someone who believes you
Dr. Efrat LaMandre, NP, PhD, is a best-selling author, speaker, and founder of multiple health care initiatives, including EG Healthcare and The Knew Method. Known online as the Medical Disruptor with over 5 million followers, she is a leading voice against medical gaslighting and a passionate advocate for functional medicine, patient empowerment, and health care innovation.
Find Dr. LaMandre at the following places
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drefratlamandre
Facebook: www.facebook.com/drefratlamandre
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@drefratlamandre
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@DrEfratLaMandre
Website: www.drefratlamandre.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/efratlamandre
Twitter: www.x.com/DrEfratLamandre
Welcome to my podcast!
I am a retired medical doctor and psychiatrist specializing in chronic complex diseases. With over 33 years of experience, I have worked with thousands of patients, integrating both conventional and integrative approaches to enhance health and function. Since retiring from medical practice at the end of 2022, my passion is to help others find healing by sharing science-based, no-to-low-cost health strategies.
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