I, for one, live in the US and have absolutely been gaslit by multiple physicians. They are reluctant to order tests, to refer to specialists, and to try medications. They are not reluctant in the least to assume that any and all problems are in my head. Maybe they are. But it's an undemonstrated assumption they make because they see MDD on my chart. They're skeptical that anything is actually wrong.

It took over six months and five visits to two different doctors to get a referral to an orthopedicist. Turned out my cubital tunnel had collapsed on my ulnar nerve, crushing it. The surgeon said that I shouldn't have waited so long to see him, because the damage was so severe. Yeah, well, I tried. Insurance doesn't cover specialists without a referral from a generalist, and I am at their mercy.

It's been over five years now since that surgery, and I still deal with nerve pain and weakness in that arm. Nobody cares. Oh well.