Historical sociological research on people with chronic illness has examined their navigation of their lives post-diagnosis. Diagnosis has been considered with regard, not to its process, but rather to its definitions.While a rich literature has been produced by such approaches, how people experience the process of diagnosis has largely been ignored. This research looks at the process of diagnosis as a series of moments, all of which hold specific meaning in the interactional context of the patient-provider relationship. Looking at diagnosis from the patient’s perspective demonstrates how information about health and illness is exchanged, navigated, and negotiated. Importantly, this research also reflects that healthcare inequalities, namely those based on race and gender, are intrinsic to all medical processes. This research outlines the concept of linear and non-linear diagnostic experiences and the role of power and disempowerment in medical encounters.