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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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How language changes
- Geoffrey D Madden (9 February 2007)
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We are all getting older
- Joanne M Shaw (12 February 2007)
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Copy Sport or wine
- Mary E Black (12 February 2007)
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Old Age or Later Life
- Dermot Walsh (13 February 2007)
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"Political Correctness" is the politically correct word for Hypocrisy
- Adrian Mondry (19 February 2007)
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Not the PC police again!
- Diane-Marie Campbell (28 February 2007)
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Geoffrey D Madden, general practitioner Beenleigh, Australia 4127
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Of tangential interest no doubt, but I could not help recalling Stan Freberg's efforts to sing "Old Man River" on his satirical radio show in the 1950s while being watched by a representative of what would now be called political correctness. He got no further than the first three words when his reviewer let off a horn and explained that "old" was offensive and suggested he sing "Elderly Man River" instead. I haven't noticed "elderly" decending into disrepute but predict "older" will follow it to oblivion and by then "old" may be able to be recycled. However we refer to our patients and friends of advanced years [?acceptable] we can all agree that respect is the key and if so be rewarded by their stories and their trust. Competing interests: None declared |
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Joanne M Shaw, Chairman, Ask About Medicines 2 Rutland Mews West, London SW7 1NY
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At Ask About Medicines, the independent campaign to increase people's involvement in decisions about their use of medicines (www.askaboutmedicines.org), we agree that what you call people matters. As well as inadvertently causing offence, careless use of language can affect the way messages are heard. We are all ageing and as we do so, most of us will be taking more medicines - on average one additional drug for every decade past the age of 50. Which is why the theme for Ask About Medicines Week 2006: "Asking About Medicines As We Get Older" is relevant to all of us. A similar logic has led us to this year's theme. Ask About Medicines Week 2007 will run from 5th-9th November, focusing on "Asking About Medicines As We Grow Up". Competing interests: None declared |
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Mary E Black, Public Health Physician Belgrade
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In most sports there are additional and well-publicised categories for seniors or masters. These are popular with athletes, especially in sports such as golf, rowing and tennis, where the added skill and profile of the players bring additional spectators. Zen sports such as archery and martial arts have assumed that age brings additional skills and wisdom, and so have a much greater age range of players and do not pander to the disposability of players in other sports. Or why not copy from the great wines, which are known as vintage? Competing interests: None declared |
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Dermot Walsh, Consultant Psychiatrist Health Research Board, Dublin,4
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The Royal College of Psychiatrists recognises a specialism of "Old Age Psychiatry". This manifestation of ageism is odd for a body which has run camapaigns to counter stigma in the field of mental health. In this jurisdiction I have promoted the less offensive " Later Life Psychiatry" with some measure of sucess. Competing interests: None declared |
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Adrian Mondry, Locum Consultant in General Medicine and Geratology Horton General Hospital, Banbury, OX16 9AL
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Disrespect, by any other name, will sting as much. On doing my ward rounds, I notice that virtually all nursing staff and all my junior doctors address my senior patients using their first names, or well intentioned wordings such as "love", and "darling". At the same time, I have had several of these same patients ask me how to address me (whether as Mr. rather than Dr., in the way consultants were addressed traditionally). So I perceive senior citizens who still care about formalisms that the younger health professionals at best snigger about (most aren't even aware of them) being treated as incompetent, mentally inferior/ inadequate/ dependent individuals, while their age group is given some new and constantly changing hypocritical designation. I say: name things, and people, as they are. A fat man is fat, not big; and old woman is old, not agely challenged. But when you interact with them, give them all the respect they deserve. And that includes to NOT use the straight words later on in a derogative way while being hypocritically (sorry: politically correct) in their face. Competing interests: None declared |
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Diane-Marie Campbell, itinerant emergency physician NSW Australia 2291
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Surviving to be elderly is one of my ambitions in life. "Elder" is a term of respect in some cultures and indicates an office-bearer in some churches. The Cambridge dictionary defines elder as "an older person, especially one with a respected position in society." I have more respect for an elderly car in good repair than I have for a new one. It is not the term which is disrespectful. Conversely, "oldies" probably is disrespectful. Appropriating the use of Christian names without invitation, particularly when speaking to elders, is disrespectful. My elderly great-aunts were far too gracious to correct staff who used their first names. But they introduced family members formally, and their habit of referring to their own contemporaries as "your uncle John" or "Auntie Jane" when speaking to my 70-year old father told the astute listener their expectations. "Senior" has too many other uses. A Senior Registrar is rarely elderly, nor is a senior officer in the army. "Older" is equally useless, one refers to small children and older children. Treat the elderly with respect and it won't matter. Above all, stop blaming them for the state of the health system! Competing interests: None declared |
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