A Black Patient Almost Got Their Foot Amputated Because Of Their Non-Black Doctor's SUPER Wrong Diagnosis
Going to the doctor can be a terrifying experience when you genuinely have no idea why a part of your body is aching, itchy, numb, or you just know something is off, but you can't explain it.
But one doctor told a story on TikTok that perfectly explains why Black people — who are 20-30% more likely to get misdiagnosed by a medical professional than white men — have yet another layer of concern when they enter a doctor's office.
Dr. Nichole Mgboji, known as @naturallynonny on TikTok, is a 28-year-old podiatry surgical resident from Maryland. And a repost of a video she shared about an experience with a patient recently went viral with 3.5 million views. "Do you know why it's important to have a Black doctor if you're Black?" she asked.
TikTok: @joelbervell / Via tiktok.com
"There was a patient I saw today. I got a consult [from a colleague]. He's like, 'Hey, we think this is frostbite.' I was like, 'Oh man.'"
"Thinking that it was going to be 'dry gangrene.' And if you don't know what that is, that means your toes are basically going to fall off, and you need to put betadine and everything to make sure it stays dry until you can amputate it," she explained.
"I said, 'Do they have, you know, what's going on?' Like – they're like, 'Oh, it looks necrotic, it looks blackened, it looks...'"
Necrotic means dead or dying tissue.
*long, disappointed pause*
"I went to the patient, and the patient had hyperpigmentation. They [the colleague] told me it was necrotic. That patient had cap refill," she said.
Cap refill pertains to blood circulation in your arms and legs.
"Their toes were alive, they're just Black — ya," she concluded.
In the comments of the video, an alarming number of doctors and patients shared similar experiences. "My doctor thought I had cancer because of my arm having hyperpigmentation, which was just the natural deodorant having a bad reaction to my armpits," this person shared.
"I'm in peds psych, I've heard providers refer to AAVE (African American Vernacular English) as 'psychosis' 'disorganized speech,'" this person said.
"had a doctor ask me, 'what are those scars on your stomach what happened???' he meant my stretch marks..." this person shared.
Other people expressed how grateful they were for Dr. Mgboji. "If nobody told you in a while.. thank you and I'm proud of you," this person expressed.
"Oh lord have mercy. Thank god you were there," this person said.
And one commenter needed to know how doctors end up in this situation in the first place. "I have a question. As a black girl going into healthcare do you learn about it in the curriculum? I heard how things look on us isn't even taught," they said.
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Dr. Mgboji addressed that question, acknowledging, "At my institution, I don't believe there was an overwhelming amount of literature or pictures about different melanated skin tones, but we were instructed to recognize that things will, in fact, look different on various complexions."
She shared how Black people can advocate for themselves if they're ever in this predicament. "Understand medical terminology at least, and in some circumstances, get a second opinion."
"The best way is having a trusted family member or friend in the medical field. The medical field is very complex, and it's good to have someone close to you who can explain things to you in a way that you understand," she said.
What do you think? Did the patient's actual diagnosis surprise you? Let us know in the comments.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
CNN's Sara Sidner opens up about losing Ananda Lewis to breast cancer and her upcoming surgery: ‘How am I doing? I don't know right now, honestly.'
In an emotional interview with TheGrio's Natasha S. Alford, CNN anchor Sara Sidner reflects on the loss of Ananda Lewis, the mental toll of breast cancer, and the health disparities Black women continue to face. After a week filled with deep loss and reflection, CNN anchor Sara Sidner spoke with TheGrio's Natasha S. Alford about something far more personal than the headlines she usually covers: her ongoing battle with breast cancer and the recent passing of her dear friend, Ananda Lewis. In a raw and heartfelt moment, Sidner described the 'tornado of emotions' she's been experiencing as she grieves Lewis—who also battled breast cancer—and simultaneously prepares for her own reconstructive surgery. 'How am I doing? I don't know right now, honestly,' she admitted to Alford when asked how she was doing. 'I can't really explain the tornado of emotions that is swirling around in my body right now. Losing Ananda Lewis after having sat with her just a few months ago and talked about our decisions for our health and knowing that part of her decision was a bit of a trust of the traditional ways of medicine in this country. Sidner pointed to the stark racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are about 40% more likely to die from the disease than white women. This harsh reality is due to factors like late-stage detection, other health conditions that complicate the disease, and inadequate access to care. She continued: 'Knowing that we both took these different paths and that she was at peace with hers and that I'm at peace mine, but losing her was just a reminder of not only the deadliness that cancer can still med out, but also that it does it to black women more than their counterparts.' 'Having that light be turned off… is just a reminder of our mortality—and a reminder that my fight with this disease is not over.' Sidner shared that while she has completed some phases of treatment, her journey is ongoing. A major reconstructive surgery still lies ahead, and long-term medication will be part of her life for years to come. The emotional toll, she said, is just as real as the physical one. 'I think that's probably one of the hardest things about this particular kind of breast cancer, but cancer in general is you're always wondering is it gonna come back- when does it come back?' Sider reflected. 'There's a mental component of this that I think everyone has to recognize and deal with and try to make sure that there's no shame or blame that goes on both in your own mind and in your community.' Sidner's openness reflects the same themes of truth-telling and healing she explores in her latest CNN story, airing Sunday at 8PM ET on The special is called 'The Simril(l)s: A Family in Black and White' and follows one family—Black and white descendants linked by slavery—as they confront painful history and begin a conversation about reparations. More must-reads: Judge blocks Trump's election executive order, siding with Democrats who called it overreach 7 iconic fictional (but real in our hearts) fathers we love, in honor of Father's Day Key moments from the fifth week of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
The things ER doctors do and don't worry about
A fun day out with the kids at a trampoline park, fueled by some energy drinks (and a Tylenol for your hangover) that ends with petting some gorgeous local dogs sounds like a lovely day for most, but those seemingly lowkey activities would leave an emergency room doctor panicking. A recent video posted to TikTok by Claire Edwards (username @theclairenecessities) titled 'Things my doctor husband does and does not care about' prompted other health professionals to weigh in and add their own personal favorite list of activities and items that either stress them out — or leave them unbothered. The Independent spoke to Dr Jason Idelson, clinical chief of corporate medicine at City MD, and Dr Anita Singh, chair of high acuity urgent care centers in New Jersey, to find out what common injuries they see, and which things don't concern them. Edwards' TikTok raised concerns over keeping children well away from hazards. As well as 'pointy objects,' people were quick to urge caution over bikes, backyard pools, and especially… trampolines. Yes, jumping up and down on a big matted platform surrounded by metal springs is great for practicing somersaults — and injuring yourself. 'I'm convinced trampoline parks are owned by orthopedic surgeons,' wrote the partner of an ER doctor in the comment section. 'Ortho wife here there's at least one kid a week in the clinic due to the trampoline park,' agreed another, adding a money emoji. Idelson, who has four children of his own, echoed the sentiment. 'There's the age-old saying that 'if you want to meet your local ER team – buy a trampoline,' he tells The Independent. 'Trampolines are a ton of fun… but the reality is, they're very dangerous for many reasons.' With summer approaching fast both Idelson and Singh warn people to 'stay vigilant' against the presence of ticks in clothing if hiking or in nature – as tick-borne diseases are common, and can be serious if not treated quickly. Reported tick sightings are nearly double already this year, with experts believing this may be our worst season yet. People are often scared to take ticks off by themselves, Singh says, though it's perfectly possible to do. 'Use tweezers, grab close to where it's attached to the skin and just give it a good twist and pull up and usually like that,' she says. Make sure to give them a strong tug, as it can often be difficult to remove them, she adds. To prevent needing to pull one out, wear the right clothing, including items that cover your arms and legs appropriately. In her video, Edwards apologized to dietitians before revealing that her husband does not care about drinking energy drinks – though several actually jumped in to agree. 'I don't care about energy drinks. Some days they are the only thing giving me the will to live,' wrote one, with another adding: 'I don't give a rip about energy drinks as long as someone doesn't regularly exceed 400 mg caffeine per day and the drink is low sugar or sugar free.' Caution is needed though, says Idelson, noting that some drinks can have the equivalent caffeine of five cups of coffee. 'We see a lot of people, particularly in the emergency department, coming in with arrhythmias of the heart because they're drinking too much [caffeine],' he says. A big no-no for ER doctors is taking acetaminophen (commonly sold as Tylenol) after drinking alcohol to help ward off a hangover. Both substances are processed by the liver, and alcohol can get in the way of the liver safely metabolizing the substance, which can lead to liver damage or even failure in serious cases. Ibuprofen, on the other hand, is not cleared by the liver – but you should still be careful. In excess, Ibuprofen can lead to ulcers of the stomach and gastrointestinal bleeds. But the key is always moderation. 'The reality is, one time, if you're drinking alcohol and you take some Tylenol and you have normal liver function, it's obviously not going to hurt you,' Idelson says. Keeping dogs near children is also of concern to ER doctors, with around two million children being bitten each year, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dog bites are 'very common,' says Singh. 'The most important thing is to know if that dog is fully up to date with their vaccines.' While facial bites can be quite severe and disfiguring, those in other areas, including hands, carry a higher risk of infection. Singh adds that people should be discouraged from feeding 'wild animals' such as raccoons and squirrels. 'People like to feed them for some reason… we probably shouldn't encourage that, because those kinds of animals possibly carry rabies,' she says. Another source of concern for Edwards' husband is glitter – which is hard to remove from the eyes of small children. While he hasn't personally seen the dangers of glitter first-hand, Idelson cautions against the presence of marbles and beads around young ones. 'Kids love to stick them up their nose,' he says. 'And they're very difficult to remove.' The one thing that really scares him though are magnets and button batteries, which Idelson says can be 'potentially life-threatening' if swallowed by children. Magnets can detach and reattach while going down, causing strictures or obstructions. Button batteries, which are small and round, are actually corrosive and can in fact burn holes in the lining of stomachs. 'They look cute and kids like to play with them, but.. they're extremely dangerous and parents need to be super careful,' Idelson says.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
33 Discreet Fix-It Products For Personal Stuff
Lumify Eye Drops, a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. A teensy two-in-one nausea relief inhaler designed to work FAST on spontaneous nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and general queasiness (having a human body is hard). You can either use it as a scent inhaler or rub it directly on the tip of your nose for relief. Summer road trips and cruises just got a HECK of a lot more bearable. A nail renewal formula so effective at restoring discolored, damaged nails that reviewers started seeing results in as little as *two days*. This not only helps tackle symptoms of fungal damage, but helps reduce the thickness and correct the ridges, so your toenails can get the sweet relief they deserve. And a delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on that at-home pedicure. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck. A set of super affordable hydrocolloid nose pore patches that will make you go "boy HOWDY" when you see how much gunk collects on them overnight. Reviewers swear by these for gently lifting out sebum from pores and pimples and minimizing their appearance! First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads to use after you shave to help prevent the infection of ingrown hairs, so you don't have to spend hours psyching yourself up to shave, knowing that you're gonna be dodging a bazillion sensitive spots on your skin. Elephant Ear Washer Bottle System for anyone whose ear wax situation has their primary care doctor going, "Yiiiiikes." Now you can take care of it at home easily, gently, and a little too effectively — the bits of wax this dislodges out of reviewers' ears are truly leaving them in shock! A reviewer-beloved anti-dandruff shampoo to relieve flaking and itching and help prevent outbreaks by getting directly to the root. A lot of reviewers mention that it not only started working from the first use, but it *also* helped with shedding and hair loss caused by dandruff in the first place. An oral rinse made with a mild mint flavor that packs a powerful punch — this formula fights bad breath for a full 24 hours and can combat those sour, bitter, and metallic tastes you can sometimes get in your mouth. First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant to help exfoliate and smooth skin by dealing with rough patches or dry bumps — a lot of reviewers with keratosis pilaris and similar skin textures swear by this for relief, with many noticing a difference after the very first use. A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen reviewers swear by as an alternative to pricey professional treatments and strips. This gets results from the very first use, lightening up years' worth of stains from coffee, tea, wine, or just, you know, existing as a human with teeth. Joesoef's pharmaceutical-grade anti-acne sulfur soap that people with acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and clogged pores swear by for helping clear their skin and relieve the tenderness. A lot of reviewers noted that they found this specific product after their dermatologists recommended it to them! Compound W Wart Removal Pads infused with concentrated wart removal medication to reduce the size and eliminate warts in a matter of days. A lot of reviewers turned to these after professional wart removals didn't work for them and saw much better results! A pack of unscented SweatBlock wipes that work for up to *seven days* after application — perfect for those of us whose underarms are a little, uh, enthusiastic, to say the least. Reviewers especially swear by this for events that might bring on nervous sweating! And a tube of antiperspirant hand cream for anyone whose hyperhidrosis has their hands and palms getting a little *too* slippy-slide-y for their comfort. Mielle's Rosemary Mint strengthening oil, a reviewer-beloved, TikTok-famous beauty prod that lives up to the hype — this is infused with biotin so it doesn't just strengthen hair, but helps encourage growth. Reviewers who use this consistently swear by it for thinning hairlines, sparse hair at their part, bald patches, and even their eyebrows! Boldify Hairline Powder for anyone who's like, "Hmmm. Wasn't there ... a lot more hair there before??" when they're styling their roots. This "makeup for hair" helps effortlessly fill in the gaps in your hairline so you don't have style around it. Reviewers also swear by this for touching up their roots between appointments! A dark spot-removing soap bar you might want to try if you're someone with sensitive skin or hyperpigmentation — this is formulated not only with hyaluronic acid to protect your skin's moisture barrier but a blend of vitamin C, retinol, collagen, and turmeric to help brighten and soothe skin. A Benzene-free, travel-friendly applicator of I Dew Care's dry shampoo powder so easy to use that you can just dab it on your hairline and rub it in for an instant, oil-absorbing refresh. Now your "no wash" days are a secret that you and your roots will never tell 👀. A deliciously soothing, super gentle Briotech spray reviewers compare to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Spray. It's similarly designed with hypochlorous acid, which targets bacteria that causes acne, skin irritation, and blemishes *without* drying your skin. Reviewers swear by this handy little spray for helping not just with acne, but rosacea, eczema, dryness, dermatitis (scalp included!), and even toenail fungus. A set of seamless, delightfully absorbent cotton and bamboo liners, because even when you can take the heat, sometimes your boobs simply CANNOT. Now they can sweat in peace without you worrying about sweat stains on your favorite blouse. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion for anyone who has had their fill of acne stickers and wants a more effective solution for overnight zit care. Just dab a constellation of this over your blemishes to help dry them out and reduce redness while you snooze. This gets extra points for being sensitive skin-friendly and easy to use! A shampoo scalp massager you can use in the shower not just to massage and exfoliate your scalp, but help with psoriasis, dandruff, and scalp tenderness! A pack of super thin hydrocolloid cold sore healing patches to help speed up healing and relieve some of the itch and "ouch!" of a breakout as fast as possible. A pair of leakproof period "Cloudfeel" boyshorts designed to hold up to 12 (!!) tampons worth of period blood, giving you tons of protection on heavier flow days or overnight. Reviewers love how ultra soft and comfortable the fabric feels — not to mention the money it saves on disposable period products! A stainless-steel tongue scraper that a lot of reviewers bought to prevent bad breath, but ended up loving even *more* because it made their mouth feel so squeaky clean (and, in a lot of cases, made their taste buds experience flavor a lot more intensely!). A saline nasal gel to help soothe your poor nostrils to recover from allergy season. You can apply one to two drops directly around your nostrils for instant relief from the discomfort, including soothing aloe to moisturize the area. "Gloves In A Bottle," aka the hero of anyone with dry, cracked hands — this game-changing lotion not only helps heal your skin, but actively protects it for four to twelve hours, even through repeated hand washes. Reviewers with eczema or those who have to sanitize frequently for work swear by this! A tea tree oil butt acne-clearing lotion working overtime to help clear and prevent further buttne. (Is that already a word, or am I getting ... ~cheeky~?) A hair identifier spray to make shaving or dermaplaning *that* much more efficient — this not only highlights where your hair is so you don't miss a spot, but also moisturizes and protects skin while you're shaving. This is also a great way to ensure you aren't *over*-shaving areas, since you'll know right away if the hair is taken care of! A piercing bump solution made with jojoba, grape seed, and rose that'll help speed over the healing process over the course of a few weeks, so your new piercings can ~dazzle~ everyone in their full glory. A podiatrist-level toenail clipper to quickly and easily take care of thicker toenails and ingrown ones, so if you want to give yourself a pedicure and paint your toesies now that sandals are fair game again, you can do it right at home. A pack of Dr. Frederick's Original Better Blister Bandages, aka the blister whisperers — if you're someone who tends to get blisters when your feet sweat, you'll want to invest in these. These waterproof bandages don't just protect blisters, but are designed to actively help heal them (and significantly reduce the pain from friction!).
