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A study published in JAMA Network Open found that approximately 1 in 6 U.S. adults reported encountering disrespectful or judgmental language in medical records or healthcare encounters. In a nationally weighted survey of 500 adults from November 21 to December 4, 2025, 17.1% of patient portal users reported seeing this type of language in their own or a loved one’s medical records. Examples of potentially judgmental descriptions include labeling patients as “noncompliant” or “resistant.” Among all respondents, 85.5% said such language would make them less likely to return to a clinician, 74.7% believed it could negatively influence subsequent clinicians, and 73.3% anticipated worse healthcare outcomes, including diagnostic or medication errors. Experiencing judgmental language was associated with substantially greater odds of diminished trust in clinicians’ documentation (adjusted odds ratio, 5.76). Patients with chronic pain or lower incomes were more likely to report judgmental language.
Take note: The 21st Century Cures Act requires that providers must make clinical notes immediately accessible to patients through their portals. Knowing that, the study authors suggest that “focused work on person-centered communication, clinician training, and institutional standards for respectful language” is needed. Documentation matters. Read more about the gap between medical decision making and the recorded visit in this recent Revenue Cycle Management article from JUCM: Are You Documenting For Comprehensive Care?