Why do you use it?...
I'm not a fan of the word blind. In fact, in my 37 years of private practice, I have not once uttered the words blind, going blind, blindness, risk of going blind, etc. to any patient. I have never found the need to. I have too much respect for it.
I'm speaking from a very high volume medical/surgical practice. How often have we seen someone become absolutely NLP or No Light Perception - or initially present NLP or truly blind? Very very rare. Individuals who have been labeled blind most often have some level of vision, perhaps even functional vision, but it's true many are unfortunately severely disabled from extreme vision loss.
So why is this word used? Is it a shortcut instead of spending time educating our patients of what may (or may not) transpire? Could it be lack of experience or true understanding of the individuals condition or medical history? Is it to instill the fear of God in people? A scare-tactic for unnecessary surgery or follow-ups to bill insurance? Perhaps even an altered sense of academic pleasure, arrogance, or ego - I like to call the academic smirk - and unfortunately this mentality exists. I have seen it first hand. Or worse yet, no sense of empathy for a real human being like you and me.
During my time in medicine, individuals presenting to family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, and others for a simple eye problem, were all too often unnecessarily advised and given instructions for the risk of blindness - despite the most benign conditions.
Let’s learn to better understand the effect of our words, especially coming from those of us in a position to change lives. Our words carry profound weight. Have you used the words blind or blindness in practice? Ask yourself and be honest as to why.
Let’s not forget the patient in our chair is a human being with emotions and fears - always leave them with optimism and give them a reason to smile! There is always a reason...
-JRM
P.S. Don't forget those other words I believe need more respect and also thrown around way too often - tumor, cancer, failure as in congestive heart failure, and so many others...
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