Abstract
The highly offensive epithets, "moron, imbecile, and idiot," were once accepted clinical terms denoting patients with subnormal intelligence. How their meaning has degenerated over time exposes the danger of allowing hubris a voice in place of Hippocrates at the bedside. Healthcare professionals should exercise moral probity when choosing words that describe their patients and in all circumstances avoid the "neuroslur" - use of language that denigrates others by imputing inferior intellectual capacity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 71-77 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Ethics and Medicine |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 2014 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Religious studies
- Philosophy
- Health Policy