Reducing an Individual to a Label…Without a face…Without a soul

 

Reducing an Individual to a Label…Without a face…Without a soul

 

When people reduce other human beings to labels, it is appalling. It destroys the element of humanity within each person as an individual. This happens a lot all over this world, not just in health care.

When it boils down to it, people can be just plain nasty sometimes. They curse, they scream, they yell, and they say awful things about each other in private or even in public. In everyday life, people call each other names all the time in their homes, on the street, and at work. People snicker behind each others backs and point fingers calling people fat, lazy, ugly, stupid, and so many words that I cannot mention.

People discriminate against each other because of things like ability, looks, race, faith, etc. as well. In this day and age, one would think that it should not be like this anymore, but sometimes I think it will never ever change. We all have said things that we cannot take back at one time or another. So, such labeling of people, even to the point of labeling someone based on a trait and wording it in such a manner that it is demoralizing, can be very disheartening and devastating. What is alarming is that some medical professionals do this too . Hopefully, it is the minority. It is one thing to do this here and there out of frustration, but when they start to air their dirty laundry out on the internet and discuss patients with such anger…it really becomes a problem when patients see that this is what some health care workers really think about their patients. In all fairness, I can understand the harsh reality that some of them (especially in an ER setting), must deal with. They lose their cool and could decide to vent elsewhere saying crude things that no one should say…but do. Sometimes, one cannot help saying something in a smart tone. Those in healthcare are abused, mistreated, and even physically harmed, and many of us do not even realize how bad this can be unless we have seen it or experienced it ourselves. But ,there remains a fine line it seems between professionalism and unethical behavior for some. They are supposed to be held up to the highest standards. But in all reality, if one ventures online one to see personal sites ran by some healthcare workers, one might be shocked or even frightened by what their eyes fall upon. Many people are interested in reading on medical topics for whatever reason and do stumble upon these sites believe it or not. But on some occasions, there is language by the medical personnel, or even by commenters on their posts that defy all odds of human decency. And again, sometimes such posts are directed at the poster and are no better either. Certain medical professionals are already in the public eye. They are putting their own livelihood at risk by saying such things if it were to be found out who the are. This only goes for the ones who say horrible, inexcusable things that they should not say and if too much information is divulged. But, even if a patient was not identifiable…If media got loose about a certain site, and people found out who that person was, an uproar at the least might occur. At the very least, or the very most, depending on how you want to look at it, patients who see hospitals and doctors offices as a place of disrepect and poor care, may choose to suffer with an illness or injury instead of getting much needed medical care. In the end, this is the most serious result that could occur. Can’t happen you might think? Well it does, and I know many people personally who avoid these places at all costs because of how they feel towards doctors and medical institutions in general. It might be a small group, but I bet there are a lot more out there just as there are an unknown number of angry and fed up medical professionals. In retrospect, it is fine to be able to talk about your feelings in general, but when you start going around showing hatred towards others, and by putting it out there for all to see…I feel this shows a lack of moral discipline and humanity. If anger and disgust for other human beings starts to show in your work or daily life .and is out of control, then it is time to get professional help for it no matter what your profession or walk in life may be.