Why You Should Stop Saying ‘Committed Suicide’
Jutta Kuss via Getty Images Your words matter, especially when it comes to mental health. One phrase that you may not be aware is particularly egregious? “Committed suicide.” It’s an expression that many people still lean on, both in the news and in outside conversations. (Take one look at headlines and internet discourse after the […]
Opinion | Allies as Mediators in the Healthcare Workplace
I love writing and often jump at the chance to have my words read by others. So, I was pretty excited when I received an email request to write an op-ed from my hospital’s public relations team, especially since I was only a fellow at the time. They had read some of my previous work […]
Opinion | Will Elon Musk’s Warning About the Future Hold True for Medicine?
“Mark my words. AI [artificial intelligence] is more dangerous than nukes.” — Elon Musk The other day, as soon as I walked into work, already running my usual 10 minutes late, I was hustling from my office to the clinic when I saw one of our physician assistants in the hallway. She is otherwise known […]
What To Do If Your Child Talks About Suicide
No parent is prepared to hear the words, “I wish I were dead,” or “I don’t want to be alive anymore.” When a child says something so shocking, it can be tempting to believe they don’t really understand what they’re saying, or they couldn’t possibly be serious. But if your child expresses thoughts of suicide, […]
Opinion | ‘Don’t Let Me Die in Pain,’ My Patient Pleaded
I still recall the look on my patient’s face and her words 2 years later. “I am done with this life,” she told me. “Don’t let me die in pain,” she added as she folded her hands to physically plead with me. I simply cannot convey in words how painful it was to witness the […]
‘Words Can Mean Life or Death’: What We Heard This Week
“Words have consequences and during a public health emergency like COVID-19, those words can mean life or death for patients.” — Joe Knickrehm, vice president of communications for the Federation of State Medical Boards, on their statement that physicians who spread COVID misinformation could face disciplinary action. “Our plan is to protect the American people […]