The epidemiologist as a patient: navigating medical care while living with Kindler epidermolysis bullosa
Abstract
This article explores the burden of living with Kindler epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genodermatosis and subtype of epidermolysis bullosa, through the lens of the affected individual who is also an epidemiologist. My dual perspective bridges the clinical chart with the lived reality of chronic illness. I critique the systemic failures of late diagnosis, the inadequacy of supportive care, and the profound ethical breaches of consent and privacy encountered in the medical system. My narrative advocates for integrating the patient’s expert knowledge into clinical management and research, calling for a critical re-evaluation of the doctor–patient relationship in the context of rare, multisystemic diseases.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Skin and Cellular Biology Research
Connective tissue disorders research
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
Publication details
- Journal / source
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Volume
- 194
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 945–946
- Publication date
- 24 January 2026
- Language
- EN