News: The impersonal manner of 'management speak'

25 May 2009

A reader comments on the incourteous language used when addressing palliative care

I have just read the article ‘Difficult conversations, difficult choices’ in the March/April GMCtoday with interest.

I, however, shuddered at the description of a patient or carer by Ms Jo Black as a 'service user' – what happened to the politeness/courtesy of calling or referring to a patient or carer by those names and not bringing in 'management-speak'? In her definition of 'service user' she included those who have personal experience of palliative or end of life care – to me that describes a dying or dead patient – not an impersonal 'service user'.
Dr JD Baines

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