The North Dundas Times
EYE ON ACTIVISM
Total family doctor prevents needless surgery
Terms we may want to reconsider using
In recent times, there has been a lot of discussion about terms that are no longer culturally appropriate, or politically correct, or just plain offensive. Why shouldn’t we use these terms, and what are they? There are a lot of different terms that aren’t appropriate to continue using, and a lot of different opinions about whether they should still be used or not. Due to these factors, I won’t be able to include every term. However, I will do my best to include as many as I can! Spooky: One of the common adjectives used to describe Halloween is Spooky. However, it’s not a culturally appropriate word to use. It has a history as being an antiBlack slur when white soldiers began calling fellow Black soldiers ‘Spooks’. Words to use instead: “creepy, scary, or frightening”. Black Sheep: The expression "Oh, they're the black sheep of the family" is used often. It’s a negative expression, the 'Black Sheep' is often scorned for being 'different'. This just continues the old segregation argument that Black people are completely different from white people so they should be scorned for it. Even if the ‘black sheep’ you’re talking about doesn’t have darker skin, the deeper meaning is still the same. Negatively calling someone out for being different than you is never a good thing but if you’re doing it in a positive way, just say “different”. Savage: Savage has kind of become a synonym for brutal or intense. However, that word has a history of being used by European colonizers and settlers to describe the Indigenous Peoples. It's a term May 19, 2023
coined to put down Indigenous Peoples because their culture isn't European and therefore, according to the colonizers, "savage". Words to use instead: “brutal, uncivilized, or intense”. Lame: Pretty much EVERYONE is using that word now. It's a fun word, however a long time ago, and maybe even still now, that was the term for people who have a mobility impairment. So using that in a negative way can be offensive considering that it was used to describe a group of people who aren't bad in any way! The same goes for the word dumb, but for people with a hearing impairment. Words to use instead: “boring, ridiculous”. Let’s have a powwow: Let's have a powwow can be used as a synonym for "Let's have a party!". However, a powwow is a sacred ceremony for a lot of Indigenous Nations. It would be like comparing Christmas, Eid-al-fitr or Easter to a party. Honestly, you could just call it a party or meeting. Slave: Saying that people were slaves sort of undermines that they were also people. It's better to say people who were enslaved, or enslavement. It's also better not to say "I was slaving away yesterday!" if you were working on math homework. This is because there were actual people who were born, lived, and died never knowing anything other than abuse and terrible non-stop work at the hands of people who ‘owned’ them. Breaking free took centuries, and the effects still show up in systemic racism today. Ladies and Gentlemen/Sir and Madam: This is a very respectful way to address someone, and it is still very useable if you know someone’s gender identity for sure. But, if you called someone who doesn’t identify with either gender sir or madam, this can be really offensive. Sharing your own pronouns when you introduce yourself (Hi, my name’s Zara! My pronouns are they/them, what are yours?) before calling someone sir or madam can keep those offences
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from happening. Same with addressing a room full of people. Saying ladies and gentlemen can be hurtful for someone who doesn’t identify with either binary gender. You could say something like “Good afternoon folks/ everyone/friends.” If you are unsure about what honorific to use for a person who doesn’t identify with either of the binary genders, using Mx. (as in Mx. Jones pronounced mix) is probably a safe bet. Asking someone what honorific they prefer is still a good thing to do though! Why shouldn’t we use these terms anyway? Using terms like the ones outlined above can have unintentional consequences. People who are in marginalized communities face a lot of discrimination. A big part of that discrimination are the things people say and do that they are unaware of. Things such as using these terms, or not taking the time to learn someone’s pronouns. Suicide rates for marginalized communities are higher, and a lot of people see folks from marginalized communities as threatening. Not being able to be your authentic self in public makes life a lot harder. Using words that don't have the risk of offending people is doing your part in helping to make the world a more accepting place, and make people feel safe around you. People in marginalized communities deserve just as much respect as someone who isn’t in one. Zara Zrudlo is a homeschooled, fourteen year old resident of Kemtpville. They love writing, art, acting, reading and anything to do with music. Ever since they were little they’ve cared a lot about activism and social justice, and hoped to make a difference in the world. Zara has written two and a half novels, and ran a newspaper for their friends and family for three years. They love hanging out with their dogs and chickens and spending time imagining having dinner with various book characters. 10
How important is what I like to call the “Total Family Doctor” (TFD)? For years, I’ve praised the hardworking family doctor for the role he or she plays in medical care. Now, many North Americans say it’s impossible to find a family doctor. What has happened to them? Prior to becoming a surgeon, I had the good fortune to spend time as a family doctor. And I nearly decided to follow this path. Why? Because I also watched Specialists performing the same task every day. It could become boring, I thought. So, surgery finally won. But I’ve never forgotten the challenges of being a family physician. I even experienced the roles of hotel doctor and ship’s surgeon during medical training. I believe that people who are fortunate enough to have a family doctor have a better chance of living longer. Why? Because seeing a doctor regularly for checkups means they’re not playing Russian Roulette with their health. We all hope that nothing is going to go wrong with the only body we will have in this life. But when your family doctor finds you have hypertension, you can start to cut down on salt. Or when the doctor recommends you should avoid obesity, you can improve the diet and decrease health risks. Getting a head start on
problems cannot be overemphasized. Consider the woman whose breast malignancy is diagnosed early. Or the man who believes rectal bleeding is due to hemorrhoids. The “total family doctor” thinks otherwise and orders a colonoscopy which detects early cancer of the bowel. Or someone who believes a chronic cough is due to allergy. But an xray ordered by the family doctor finds early cancer of the lungs. So give thanks to the Almighty if you have a “total family doctor” looking after you. Kudos if yours steers you away from the disease I call “Pillitis”, causing people to rush for painkillers at the first sign of a headache, ignoring the serious side effects of these drugs. Why not a cold towel on the brow? Or a quiet room to relax? And why the need to rush to the pharmacy after overindulgence in food? The family doctor may suggest just a change in eating habits as the right prescription. It is also a plus to have a total family doctor who warns about the possible excess of radiation. He or she knows X-rays saves lives, but many patients are heedless of the damage of overuse. Patients should be hesitant to demand X-rays of the reluctant doctor. Herewith relevant stories. Family doctors, because they know their patients well, are astute
diagnosticians. I’ve known many direct, decisive and empathetic TFDs. Patients appreciate these traits. I witnessed a telling incident. Three specialists gathered around a patient were worried about his laboured breathing following gallbladder removal. They had decided the obstructed breathing was so serious it required an immediate tracheotomy to put a tube in his throat. As they were about to wheel the patient into surgery, the family doctor arrived and listened to his long-time patient’s breathing. Promptly he said, “I’ve known Tom for 40 years and he always breathes that way!” The operation was immediately cancelled. Three embarrassed specialists departed. This illustrates why continuity of care is so vital. There’s another way family doctors can be of tremendous help, when the problem is beyond the TFD’s range of expertise. A fast referral to the right specialist is something people without a family doctor rarely achieve. L e t ’s t r a i n m o r e TFD’s, the backbone of medical practice! In another life, I’d be one of them without hesitation. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@ docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_ jones
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