Disruptive Women in Healthcare: Destruction of Lives with the Stroke of a Pen
Victims of sexual assault in the military are often misdiagnosed with personality or adjustment disorders. Protect Our Defenders Founder Nancy Parrish and Board of Directors member Paula Coughlin expose how errant diagnoses prevent veterans and survivors from accessing the proper care and support they need in a post on the Disruptive Women in Health Care blog:
Men and women serving in our military who are raped or sexually assaulted face overwhelming obstacles in order to receive adequate health care.
Instead of assuring victims that their distress about their attacks is a normal response, the Department of Defense (DoD) has a record of mistreating victims by labeling them with errant diagnoses of personality or adjustment disorders. Based on these diagnoses, victims are not only further stigmatized, but often discharged without benefits or health care.
