Abformation

doi:10.1136/bmj.39462.374259.AD

Published 11 July 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.39462.374259.AD
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a566

Filler

When I would use a new word

Abformation

Jonathan O’B Hourihane, professor of paediatric allergy

¹ Clinical Investigations Unit, Cork University Hospital, Republic of Ireland

j.hourihane@ucc.ie

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The verb "to inform" can be either transitive or intransitive.I think transitive basically means a transaction takes place:"I informed the patient that he had cancer" [the transactionbeing that I gave the patient important information]. The intransitiveuse is to inform on someone, such as to the police, about acrime.

Considering the transactional nature of informing someone, ittherefore seems that information needs both donation and receipt.Data or details that are put somewhere for someone to find laterfor themselves do not fit this description of "information."In our electronic world many extra pieces of crucial "information"are put on a website ("if you want more details see www.we_don’t_care_if_you_read_it_but_if_we_put_it_there_then_we_are_covered_and_all_liability_is_yours/you_loser.com")or in tiny writing in a patient information sheet. The new word"abformation" seems to fit better these corporate acts of Pilate-likedivestment of responsibility, akin to tossing a lifebuoy approximatelyin the direction of a . . . [Full text of this article]