Abstract:
Stigmatization is a social phenomenon that adversely affects not only access to care but also the quality of
medical services. Stigma occurs when patients – or even healthcare professionals – are treated differently, with
prejudice or lack of empathy, due to certain traits, conditions, or social affiliations. A comprehensive literature
search was conducted using scientific and official websites of Romanian, European, and global health
institutions. Article selection employed predefined keywords (“stigmatization,” “vulnerable groups,” “quality
of medical care”), followed by co-citation and co-occurrence analyses. This approach allowed identification of
essential publications. Stigma in healthcare appears as discriminatory behavior that fosters exclusion, leading
to delayed diagnoses, treatment abandonment, and loss of trust in the system. Vulnerable groups—such as
people living with HIV/AIDS, those with mental disorders, LGBTQ+ individuals, substance users, the
homeless, and ethnic minorities—are most affected. HIV-positive patients often face avoidance, while those
with psychiatric conditions may be seen as “unpredictable” or dangerous. Stigma undermines the patient–
provider relationship, discouraging preventive care and adherence to treatment. Healthcare workers
experiencing their own health issues may internalize stigma, avoid seeking help, and compromise the care they
deliver. Health-related stigma is widespread and takes multiple forms, profoundly degrading the quality of
medical care and hindering patients’ access to services. Medical stigma generates serious systemic
consequences: patients delay seeking treatment, avoid interacting with the health system, suffer emotional
distress and burnout. These realities underscore the need for strategic interventions in professional education
and legislation to combat stigma in healthcare.
