No patient wants to be known as a 'WW': A doc explains how some labels can derail diagnosis and delay treatment
Industry Buzz
These labels stick. They follow you through every medical record, every doctor visit. And once your tag is a difficult patient—or a frequent flyer—it changes how doctors listen to you even before you open your mouth.
—Bayo Curry Winchell, MD, family medicine physician
Are you aware that some women show up in medical charts labeled as “WW” or "TW"—shorthand for “whiny woman” and “train wreck,” respectively? Are you maybe guilty of this kind of labeling practice?
These seemingly small codes can have a huge impact, influencing how some doctors perceive and treat patients even before a single word is spoken.
One striking clip—from an interview with Katie Couric and Mary Claire Haver, MD—spotlights the harm in these patient labels.
Dr. Haver tells the story of one of her patients, a woman in her 40s with symptoms such as fatigue, irregular periods, headaches, dizziness, weight gain, and low libido. Her labs and physical exam were largely unremarkable. Yet, a supervising physician had whispered to Dr. Haver: “You got a WW."
Family physician Bayo Curry Winchell, MD, stitched the interview on TikTok, recounting a similar experience where she learned what "TW" meant during her training.
"This was the code for patients, usually women with complex symptoms who didn't fit neat little boxes and were hard to care for," Dr. Curry Winchell said. "These labels stick. They follow you through every medical record, every doctor visit. And once your tag is a difficult patient—or a frequent flyer—it changes how doctors listen to you even before you open your mouth."
Related: The bias that may be affecting your medical practiceHow doctors can do better
Check your biases before you chart: Labels like WW or TW may feel like shorthand for workflow, but they embed bias and affect future care. Take a step back before documenting subjective judgments.
Listen first, diagnose second: Patients with complex or vague complaints are often presenting early signs of systemic issues. Resist the urge to dismiss symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a diagnostic box.
Avoid gossiping about patients: What we say in the hallway, during handoffs, or in teaching sessions can influence colleagues’ perceptions. Keep discussions factual, professional, and centered on patient care.
Celebrate physicians who listen: As Dr. Curry Winchell notes, actively highlighting and connecting patients to doctors who truly listen fosters better care and creates a culture of accountability.
Educate trainees about harmful language: Mentorship matters. Teaching the next generation to recognize and avoid harmful labels is key to long-term change in medical culture.