This story is infuriating. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1341966857193054209

The title essay of Leslie Jamison's The Empathy Exams is built around a 2002 study that reported that medical professionals are more likely to give women who report pain a sedative. (They give men painkillers.)

I dug up the study out of curiosity, and the thing that was even more appalling about it was that if you're Black, the treatment is exponentially worse.

This happened to me once so it strikes a particular nerve. I had a '-section because my son was in breach and had the cord wrapped around his neck. Afterwards I had a lot of pain and told my doc Tylenol wasn't doing it for me.

He said that by virtue of asking for something stronger, I was exhibiting drug seeking behavior and refused to give me anything. This an obgyn I'd seen for over a decade. He had access to all of my medical records.

And by virtue of that, should know that I had never been prescribed a painkiller at any point in my adult life. Ever. So the idea that I would suddenly be determined to take vicodin for fun with a three day old baby was just stupid.

And really, just straight up misogyny. I couldn't have been in pain; I was just emotional or whatever. I went for a follow up appointment with that guy once and never went back.

It still makes me angry to think about it. I cannot fathom the level of rage I'd have if it happened while I was potentially dying of covid. I'm so sorry for Dr. Moore's family.