Martha Mitchell effect
Also found in: Wikipedia.
Martha Mitchell effect
[Martha Mitchell, 1918–1976. Wife of U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell, she complained that illegal activities were going on in the Nixon White House during Watergate but was ignored because she was thought to suffer from psychiatric illness.]
The mistaken diagnosis by a medical professional that a patient has a delusional disorder.
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners