Living With Wheels

Thoughts On ...

How Others See Me:

Classic Medical Responses

to Disability

 

The medical response to disability focuses solely on the physical damage to the body, excluding anything else.

 

A classic example occurred in January 2001, when I was consulting a surgeon on some severe pain in my lower back and upper leg.

 

The initial conversation was with one of the consultant's junior team members, and when the subject of possible surgery was mentioned, the man to whom I was speaking felt compelled to ask me the following question "You do understand that this surgery wouldn't enable you to walk, don't you?"

I was stunned - too stunned to laugh in his face, unfortunately!

 

I was not there because I wanted to walk, I was there to try to find out the cause of the pain!