Dr. Nicole Rochester , a pediatrician, says some relatives no longer seek her medical advice. Her adult daughters often turn to TikTok and Google to research conditions.

It’s disconcerting, she says, but not necessarily surprising. People are increasingly wary of a healthcare system that is supposed to make them feel better but instead leaves them stressed and frustrated. And while much ire is directed at insurance and pharmaceutical companies, doctors are the front face of the system and are losing the public’s confidence, as well.

“There are a lot of external factors that have really led to this dismantling of trust,” says Rochester.

Doctors retain a high ranking in terms of honesty and ethical standards among Americans, but trust levels have fallen markedly since 2021, according to Gallup’s annual professions ratings. About 53% of those polled in 2024 gave a high or very high rating to medical doctors, down from 67% in 2021. It’s the biggest drop among 23 professions ranked by Gallup in that period.

That’s notable. We’ve long relied on doctors to remedy our pains, make lifesaving decisions and have our best interest in mind. Now people feel less confident. They see a series of time-pressed physicians who keep visits short and struggle to build rapport with patients. That often makes it seem as if they are dismissing concerns or letting biases creep into care.

Looking Elsewhere

There are real costs to this. People look online for information on health conditions, often diagnosing themselves. The information is easily accessible, but may not be well researched and could be dangerous. They may skip checkups. One study found only 14% of people with low levels of trust take their medication.

Some people are so overwhelmed by dealing with doctors that they pay professional advocates to coordinate care. While beneficial for some, this threatens to widen gaps in healthcare outcomes for those of different income levels.

Trust in doctors is more important than ever given the aging U.S. population. If patients feel disregarded or confused by their doctors, they could ignore or miss crucial advice. Needed care could fall through the cracks.

That is what concerns Terry Fulmer , a registered nurse and president of the John A. Hartford Foundation. The eldercare foundation recently partnered with AgeWave, a consulting firm specializing in aging-related issues, to conduct a survey of 5,000 adults, half of whom were 65 and older.

Older adults often have more chronic conditions and are sent to a series of specialists, each with treatment and prescription plans. The average older adult takes four daily medications; Fulmer knows of some older people taking 15.

Care feels disjointed. About 30% of people on Medicare see five or more physicians annually.

“Every time they see a new doctor, they have to retell their story which erodes trust because they don’t feel listened to or known,” says Fulmer.

Communication Breakdown

Sylvia O’Brien , 74, felt unheard at times by doctors. She says primary-care doctors minimized early signs of her husband’s dementia, including short-term memory loss and angry outbursts, saying it was normal aging. It got worse and he grew more combative. She took him to other doctors before a neurologist diagnosed him with dementia seven years ago.

O’Brien was relieved to have an answer, but her trusted neurologist moved. Since then, she has had three primary-care doctors for her husband and had to describe and argue for medications that relieve his anxiety, but weren’t approved under his insurance. At one point, a doctor blamed her for misunderstanding what prescription was filled.

“While I understand the medical field is overburdened, I feel I am working equally as hard to stay on top of rotating doctors who often do not seem to understand and can be dismissive,” says O’Brien. Her current doctor is empathetic and will double appointment times. O’Brien now worries she will leave.

Those who are part of the healthcare system are likewise exasperated. Jeremy Gurewitz ’s mom, a radiologist, died of pancreatic cancer in 2018. Even though she was a doctor and had generous health insurance, she often had to fight to get procedures and answers. Information wasn’t shared between doctors. The family was overwhelmed first with the diagnosis and then trying to coordinate care.

Based on that experience, Gurewitz co-founded Solace, a company that connects patients with healthcare advocates, who help make appointments, translate medical jargon and appeal insurance denials.

Seeking Help Online

Kitty Peterson says doctors implied that her joint pain and fibromyalgia was “all in my mind.” She went online and found people with similar conditions and treatments that helped them.

“Social media saved my life when the medical system failed me,” says Peterson, who found relief through an acupuncturist and massage therapist.

She believes there’s room for both traditional and alternative medicine. Peterson keeps up with vaccinations and screenings. But she gets primary care at a naturopathic clinic, which practices holistic medicine.

Rochester, the pediatrician, knows doctors are frustrated by being measured and compensated by the number of patients seen, and spending time doing paperwork and arguing with insurance companies.

But she, too, has seen doctors, wittingly or unwittingly, undermine trust. She took her aging father, who had chronic conditions, to doctors’ appointments, listened as he asked questions and posed questions herself.

“I’m African-American and he is. I just witnessed a lot of dismissal of his concerns and my concerns,” say Rochester, adding that she was taken seriously only after medical staff found out she was a doctor.

Rochester has since left clinical practice to become a healthcare advocate and consultant. “We need to be aware of the mistrust and own it as our problem,” she says.

Write to Clare Ansberry at clare.ansberry@wsj.com