Words-Words-Words and some that offend!

[A Former User]

Vocabulary can get us into trouble, another hazard when unfamiliar worlds collide. Confusion, error and sometimes insult.

In another topic posted here, Alies pointed to confusion about our term "Patient Advisor" (see PAN website's "About Us") as sometimes used for paid staff who advise patients. The discussion raised other words that don't fit or lack respect.

I feel sure each of us have encountered language that didn't reflect very well on the lived experience of patients and families. How do we react? We want to remain polite, but also recognize a big reason we are in the room is to create greater respect for patients.

Last week the BMJ (The British Medical Journal) hosted a discussion on "Words that annoy, phrases that grate in clinical care". Here's a Storify summary. Enjoy!

Comments? Reactions? How have you dealt with words that don't work for patients?

Have substitutes and strategies that you've acted upon? Claude suggested marking up his conference name tag with better words! And you? Do you have examples of providers and clinicians changing their vocabulary to help patients and care?

[A Former User]

I have experienced so many "wrong" words and choose to educate on what the "right" word is (or are). Of course, I am no expert and do not presume to suggest how to identify others but do support that if you are unsure of the term to use, ask me, I'll give you my 5 cents worth.

During the early days of my advocacy work, I focused on joining policy tables, and it seemed to me that most of the work I was doing was changing their language. I was also educating them plus it increased my own learning. Since then, I am often invited to participate at the onset of these policy tables and not only has the language in the final version a vast improvement, but having this conversation at the table has had a direct effect on the care that is provided.

Finally, I don't believe there are many wrong words, people use what they are familiar with and its up to us to help them find a new language.