Women were excluded from clinical trials until 1993 in the United States and until 1997 in Canada. Nam Kiwanuka speaks to Dr. Michelle Cohen, a family physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Queen's University, about why women were excluded and the historical harms that were caused by not including women in clinical trials.

Got a question or comment? Email us at: mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health

Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support

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Research links

Closing the women’s health gap: Canada’s $37 billion opportunity: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-canadas-37-billion-dollars-…

Cuts, uncertainty over NIH grants disrupt innovation in health fields, researchers say
:https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/15/cuts-uncertainty-over-nih-grants-disrupt-innovation-in-healt…

Gender Equity in Clinical Trials in Canada: Aspiration or Achievement?: https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3576&context=scholarly_works

History of Women’s Participation in Clinical Research: https://orwh.od.nih.gov/toolkit/recruitment/history

Guidance Document: Considerations for Inclusion of Women in Clinical Trials and Analysis of Sex Differences: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-su…

Women were excluded from clinical trials until 1993 in the United States and until 1997 in Canada. Nam Kiwanuka speaks to Dr. Michelle Cohen, a family physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Queen's University, about why women were excluded and the historical harms that were caused by not including women in clinical trials.
Got a question or comment? Email us at: <a href="mailto:mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org">mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org</a>
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health
Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.
The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support">https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support</a>
Follow TVO on social: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/theagenda">https://www.youtube.com/theagenda</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo">https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo</a>
Join our newsletter: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/newsletters">https://www.tvo.org/newsletters</a>
Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: <a href="https://www.tvo.org">https://www.tvo.org</a>
Research links
Closing the women&rsquo;s health gap: Canada&rsquo;s $37 billion opportunity: <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-canadas-37-billion-dollars-opportunity">https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/closing-the-womens-health-gap-canadas-37-billion-dollars-&hellip;</a>
Cuts, uncertainty over NIH grants disrupt innovation in health fields, researchers say :<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/15/cuts-uncertainty-over-nih-grants-disrupt-innovation-in-health-fields-researchers-say">https://marylandmatters.org/2025/09/15/cuts-uncertainty-over-nih-grants-disrupt-innovation-in-healt&hellip;</a>
Gender Equity in Clinical Trials in Canada: Aspiration or Achievement?: <a href="https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3576&amp;context=scholarly_works">https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3576&amp;context=scholarly_works</a>
History of Women&rsquo;s Participation in Clinical Research: <a href="https://orwh.od.nih.gov/toolkit/recruitment/history">https://orwh.od.nih.gov/toolkit/recruitment/history</a>
Guidance Document: Considerations for Inclusion of Women in Clinical Trials and Analysis of Sex Differences: <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/clinical-trials/considerations-inclusion-women-clinical-trials-analysis-data-sex-differences.html">https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-su&hellip;</a>

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has – and still is – failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has &ndash; and still is &ndash; failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

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