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A number of years ago, an editor corrected my use of the term "heart failure patient" in the galley proof of a manuscript. Initially I pushed back and asked for some justification. "This is how we write and speak," I added for emphasis. After due consideration, however, I saw the wisdom in this apparently minor editorial change.
Since then, I have found myself correcting the older usage when I review manuscripts in my role as Associate Editor of a Circulation subspecialty journal. When I give lectures, I often correct myself midsentence, since old habits die hard. At one talk, after correcting myself several times, I explained what I was trying to accomplish. Much to my pleasure, a member of the audience came up to me after the talk and told me how much he appreciated my efforts. He said: "I have a daughter with type I diabetes. I would never say that I have a diabetic daughter, nor would I allow anyone else to refer to her in that way. She is my daughter who happens to have and is living with diabetes."
Those simple but graceful words probably summarized it best. When we refer to a "heart failure patient," we inadvertently initiate a process of depersonalization. The patient is suddenly pigeonholed and categorized.
In my opinion, this is not really a case of political correctness run amok. This is a fair and humane way to refer to our patients. So if you catch me using the old verbiage, give me some slack. I’m working on it!
A number of years ago, an editor corrected my use of the term "heart failure patient" in the galley proof of a manuscript. Initially I pushed back and asked for some justification. "This is how we write and speak," I added for emphasis. After due consideration, however, I saw the wisdom in this apparently minor editorial change.
Since then, I have found myself correcting the older usage when I review manuscripts in my role as Associate Editor of a Circulation subspecialty journal. When I give lectures, I often correct myself midsentence, since old habits die hard. At one talk, after correcting myself several times, I explained what I was trying to accomplish. Much to my pleasure, a member of the audience came up to me after the talk and told me how much he appreciated my efforts. He said: "I have a daughter with type I diabetes. I would never say that I have a diabetic daughter, nor would I allow anyone else to refer to her in that way. She is my daughter who happens to have and is living with diabetes."
Those simple but graceful words probably summarized it best. When we refer to a "heart failure patient," we inadvertently initiate a process of depersonalization. The patient is suddenly pigeonholed and categorized.
In my opinion, this is not really a case of political correctness run amok. This is a fair and humane way to refer to our patients. So if you catch me using the old verbiage, give me some slack. I’m working on it!
A number of years ago, an editor corrected my use of the term "heart failure patient" in the galley proof of a manuscript. Initially I pushed back and asked for some justification. "This is how we write and speak," I added for emphasis. After due consideration, however, I saw the wisdom in this apparently minor editorial change.
Since then, I have found myself correcting the older usage when I review manuscripts in my role as Associate Editor of a Circulation subspecialty journal. When I give lectures, I often correct myself midsentence, since old habits die hard. At one talk, after correcting myself several times, I explained what I was trying to accomplish. Much to my pleasure, a member of the audience came up to me after the talk and told me how much he appreciated my efforts. He said: "I have a daughter with type I diabetes. I would never say that I have a diabetic daughter, nor would I allow anyone else to refer to her in that way. She is my daughter who happens to have and is living with diabetes."
Those simple but graceful words probably summarized it best. When we refer to a "heart failure patient," we inadvertently initiate a process of depersonalization. The patient is suddenly pigeonholed and categorized.
In my opinion, this is not really a case of political correctness run amok. This is a fair and humane way to refer to our patients. So if you catch me using the old verbiage, give me some slack. I’m working on it!