You are your own best advocate - we’re your second

It is a well known (and unfortunate) reality for women, people of color, non-native English speakers, and the disenfranchised, that their suffering is often not taken seriously. Doctors may glaze over symptoms, government agencies may not fully investigate claims, the list goes on. 

Many of us put a tremendous amount of trust into doctors, officers, and anyone society has deemed worthy of this trust. This looks like assuming your doctor will call you if there is something important in your test results. Or living by the “no news is good news” mentality. We all need to be able to trust our doctors and the people who keep our communities safe, but it's also important to trust your gut. Mistakes happen. There may not be malicious intent behind these mistakes, but the implications can still be life changing.

Standing up for yourself and making sure your voice is heard and taken seriously is something only you can do. There is nothing wrong with saying “something doesn’t seem right about that,” or getting a second opinion. You are the best advocate you have, and we’re your second.

We do everything in our power to hold these people accountable when their mistakes have changed your life. We can’t undo the harm that was done to you, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you recover.