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Trend: Medical schools discourage use of demeaning slang

Getting through medical school is a tough indoctrination into a close-knit fraternity, so it's no surprise that people develop their own culture. One aspect of that culture is the adoption of workplace slang. Unfortunately, medical educators say, these are often terms that would offend patients if they knew what the terms meant. Calling a patient a "rock" (who is neither getting better nor worse, but staying 'stuck' in the bed) or referring to patients as "that gallbladder in room 208" is bad enough; suggesting that a dying patient is "circling the drain" may be worse. These terms may serve to vent frustration or simplify the care process, but it also takes the focus off the humanity of patients, says Gregory Makoul, director of Northwestern University School of Medicine's center for communication and medicine. To address these concerns, schools are increasingly discouraging students from adopting jargon that might demean patients, or ideally, any jargon at all.

To learn more about this trend:
- read this Chicago Tribune piece

Related Article:
Study: Med school pharma limits affect attitudes

More stories about pharma   adoption   Slang   Jargon   Northwestern University School of Medicine   Gregory Makoul  

Comments

I recall an inpatient at a hospital where I worked who was in an irreversible coma from a high-speed boating accident. Nurses in the ICU referred to him as a "vegetable souffle." Pretty accurate description, too.

I think this is just a defense mechanism to keep the intense situations of medicine from getting to you. Hopefully the patients won't hear these terms being applied to them.

Mr Makoul ought to worry a bit more about the "medical problem" and less about the language. PC, PC, PC..... POLITICAL CORRECTNESS... this has little to do with the humanity of the patients and much to do with busy bodies thinking about supposed niceties. Go forth and heal Mr Makoul!!

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