Women face higher risk from medical errors than intimate partner violence, podcast guest says

A new episode of the All of Me Wellness podcast argues that women are more likely to be harmed by medical mistakes than by violent partners at home, and that better information can help patients push back. The conversation with clinical pharmacist Dr. Mary Van focuses on dismissal in women's health, short appointments and how informed patients can advocate for themselves.

Why it matters: - Dr. Mary Van says women entering a doctor's office face a greater risk of harm from medical error than from domestic violence at home. - The episode argues that women need more information to challenge dismissal, ask better questions and make safer decisions about their care. - The discussion centers on a broader gap in women's health research, diagnosis and treatment.

What happened: - All of Me Wellness released a new podcast episode, "If They Say It's in Your Head, Walk Out," featuring Dr. Mary Van. - Dr. Van is the clinical director and clinical pharmacist at Thrivex Medical in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. - The episode is out now and is available on YouTube and Spotify. - All of Me Wellness also directs listeners to its website for resources, including podcasts, white papers and articles.

The details: - Dr. Van cites research estimating that medical error causes more than 250,000 U.S. deaths a year, referencing Makary and Daniel in BMJ in 2016. - She says even conservative estimates place the death toll in the tens of thousands, above the number of women killed by intimate partners. - Dr. Van says medical research has long been built around a 150-pound man in his 30s, and that reference point still affects drug dosing and care. - She says clinicians are often pushed to see six to eight patients an hour, leaving about five minutes per visit. - In that time, women are often labeled, marginalized and dismissed, including being told symptoms are normal or "in their heads." - Dr. Van says anxiety can be a symptom of something deeper, such as low progesterone in perimenopause or iron loss from heavy periods. - She says a diagnosis is not the end of the process but the start of a conversation about solutions.

Between the lines: - The episode frames patient advocacy as a safety issue, not just a comfort issue. - Dr. Van's message suggests women may need to treat appointments like high-stakes decision points, especially when symptoms are minimized. - The podcast positions education as a form of self-protection in a system it says was not designed with women in mind. - The focus on perimenopause, hormone therapy and chronic pain reflects areas where women's symptoms are often underrecognized or misunderstood.

What's next: - All of Me Wellness says it will keep publishing resources to help women advocate for themselves. - Dr. Van and Thrivex Medical see patients throughout Florida. - Outside Florida, followers can join her weekly open-question sessions on Instagram and TikTok at @ThriveXHealth. - The company says its mission is to close the gap in how women's health is studied, funded and believed.

The bottom line: - The episode's message is blunt: if a clinician dismisses a woman's symptoms, walking out may be safer than staying quiet.