German Measles

[maelee]

ive got a cousin who was 4 months pregnant when she develops symptoms of german measles. Lacking knowledge, she gave birth to a handsome but terribly blind baby boy 5 months later. Luckily he did not become mentaly challenged. On my second year at nursing school, i learned that if a pregnant woman who develops or have gotten it from another person, the baby would either be blind or be mentally challenged. I just dont get why should people still act as if their not sick even if they are already feeling ill. german measles might not be felt emmediately but its a very cruel illness. i feel sorry for the boy and my cousin. I hope that people will be more responsible for their actions . Now it reminds me exactly of a book ive read only a week ago. Its a book by Agatha Christie entitled " the mirror crack'd from side to side". Im sure some of you have read it.

sorry to offend you guys with the previous words. but i think that Sue is right. Thank you Sue for being more openminded!

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Sorry Maelee,, but being in second year nursing if you were taught it was ok to use the label freak or imbecil when referring to people with disabilities your school needs to be put out of business. If those werent the terms you learned then please refrain from using them.

It is unfortunate that your cousins child was blind at birth, and luckily the child didnt suffer any other negative effects of the illness. Please though, nursing is a much more compassionate profession than to use freak or imbecil when referring to a developmentally or physically disabled person.

I'd like people to be more responsible in the terms they use for DD individuals.

[unknown99, BSN, RN]

meownsmile,

ditto on what you said!!!100%!!!

[CarVsTree]

Sorry Maelee,, but being in second year nursing if you were taught it was ok to use the label freak or imbecil when referring to people with disabilities your school needs to be put out of business. If those werent the terms you learned then please refrain from using them.

Please bear in mind that Maelee is from the Philippines. Imbecile and freak may not carry the same derogatory tone as it does here in the US.

Here is the definition of Imbecile: 1 : a mentally deficient person; especially : a feebleminded person having a mental age of three to seven years and requiring supervision in the performance of routine daily tasks of self-care

Here is a definition of freak: 3 : one that is markedly unusual or abnormal

So you can see where this is a misunderstanding of cultures & languages can occur.

I think Maelee was expressing her anger at the irresponsibility of the infected person that exposed her pg cousin to the disease.

I worked for a German (sweetheart) who would regularly talk about people molesting him (he did not mean sexual molestation) . He meant this definitsion: 1 : to annoy, disturb, or persecute especially with hostile intent or injurious effect

I explained the derogatory connotation to him and he no longer uses that word :chuckle .

Hope you aren't offended by my pointing this out, but with my international experience (both in the military and my job in Global Marketing) I know how misunderstandings between members of different cultures can occur.

Peace.

[CCU NRS]

Thank you suemom2kay for being diplomatic and explaining this in a rational informative manner. I too was reading and beginning to think this person had very poor grasp of empathetic mannerism. I now see how theses terms could literally mean exactly what was being said.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

Excellent point, Sue. We always need to remember to try to go beyond what may seem to be the "obvious."

In Spanish, "molest" also means simply to bother or to annoy... and need not bear any of the stronger connotations familiar in English usage.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

LOL This post reminds me of my friend Jaqueline who is always saying she is going outside to "blow a fag"

She is from england and is just saying she is going out to smoke a cigarette (in england they call cigarettes fags) but "blow a fag" really freaks people out who don't understand....lol

Marilyn

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Point taken,, however, how much have we been hearing about Phillipine nurses coming to the U.S. to work? I understand the cultural differences, but maybe my comments could be as informative for her. After all, working with DD individuals in this country and using those descriptive words here can get you a verbal abuse charge against your license if the wrong person hears you.

[CarVsTree]

I'm sure if Maelee decides to come to the US people in contact with her will educate her.

You did not educate her, you reacted to her words. It is understandable and I can see why you were offended by her words. However, English is a second language for her and she is not in our country yet. In addition, that is how the words translated from her language to ours. Translation books and dictionaries, often don't account for slang or politically correct terminology.

I have worked with many people from other countries. Regularly corrected correspondence so it "sounds right." Taught them what NOT to say. It is a learning process. If it is done diplomatically, it works very well.

Peace.

[CarVsTree]

LOL This post reminds me of my friend Jaqueline who is always saying she is going outside to "blow a fag"

:rotfl:

That's a good one. Always thought fag was a funny name for a cigarett, but blowing on one. Never heard THAT one!!! :lol2

When I lived in Greece there was a word for soft that sounded almost the same as a word for @#$&%#@ very nasty word. I NEVER said soft in greek. It was difference of an accent on a syllable for the most part and an s on the end... oh never mind!