To find this offensive

[JingleMyBells]

As I was leaving my neurology appointment, I have epilepsy, the receptionist loudly said to her colleague "I nearly had a fit the other night when I saw the state of the house".

To me wrong in many ways. Firstly, wrong terminology secondly, demeaning to people who have SEIZURES, could be upsetting for those newly diagnosed plus just generally inappropriate.

oh come on that receptionist didnt use the word 'fit' when referring to the OP. It was unfortunate the OP overheard this in her state of mind. She knew what the receptionist was referring to (state of her house) and it was nothing to do with the OP and her condition or illness (I put both as Im not sure what epilepsy is classed as)

Ermm I've givent his some more thought

So I agree YANBU if used incorrectly in relation to patients in her job role.

But I think YABU to be personally offended as it wasnt aimed at you and used in a different context.

However I dont like to hear people having chit chat convos whent hey should be working espcially in an environment like that where people could have just received some important emotive information about serious health concerns. Maybe it is this general lack of respect for where the staff are and their overall behaviour that has contributed to the OP being offended.

I still dont see why people need to be rude when giving blunt fortright views in AIBU - people treat the title of the board like a get of jail free card.

Typos> I didn't call her a tit. I said she has been a bit of a tit. We've all been a bit of a tit sometimes, it doesn't make her bad people. She's upset, she's allowed to be upset. But she did run a risk asking people what they thought about how she felt. It's sad, but there you go. It's AIBU, and she wasn't actually, until she started making comments like "oh, so she was lying on the floor shaking was she", and contributing to the myths about epilepsy herself. Then she was.

Thank you for FINALLY realising the point I was making about "epileptic people", however. Pendantry to you, maybe, but people are not their conditions.

But that wouldn't be the same everlong.

'Mental' is used as a derogatory description of someone with mental illness.

The word 'fit' in this context has nothing to do with seizures or people with epilepsy.

Sand

I do not expect other to share my opinion. OP asked AIBU she was told by quite a few yes. OP didn't want to accept that. That's ok she doesn't have to but she cannot then get upset because not everybody agreed with her.

I suppose it would be better if we all rallied round the OP and encouraged her to complain and kick up a fuss. The receptionist would be disciplined, possibly suspended and quiet possibly lose her job. But hey that's ok because the factthat she was having a non work related conversation with somebody else that the OP happened to over hear and has become upset about 1 word used in context that many many people do every day is much more important.

yes 'people are not their conditions'

YANBU. Someone who works there talking about fits so flippantly is highly insensitive and should know better. I guess it wasn't directly to you but even so she must have an inkling of the effect it has on people.
My brother was schizophrenic and it upset me when people said "ooh she went schizo" or something. Still does if they say it to me and he's been gone 11 years. Just have a bit of sensitivity. Can't believe people are saying FFS to you, I hope you are ok.

Well this is the problem with AIBU.

If people dont agree with you on an emotive topic then I would say it is likel that the OP will get upset - I think they are entitled, but also need to acknowledge - they did ask.

oh I confuddled myself now.

Because of course a clinical specialist in Neurology would be completely oblivious to how that comment could be construed. Right oh.

I've lost count of the number do posters who have referred to the 'nurse' or the 'health care professional' but now this healthcare worker - a receptionist has been elevated to a "clinical specialist in Neurology"!!

I have the greatest respect or receptionists but they are not clinicians. The OP made it abundantly clear from the start that this was a member of clerical staff who was not talking to her but merely within her earshot but why let the truth get in the way of a good story?

MrsDevere

Yes there are probably loads of Pricks that would defend him however unless I was prepared to accept those people telling me so when I posted my upset on AIBU then I wouldn't post on AIBU.

My point isn't that OP is upset. She is entitled to be. My point is unless you can accept that some won't agree with you then don't post it here.

That's right, Funny. Make massive assumptions exaggerating the OP's posts and inserting stuff they didn't actually say to encourage more ridicule. Well done. Have 10 extra kicking points.

It's acceptable to tell someone they are BU gently, with empathy. People here haven't bothered. They smelled blood so went in for the kill in a disgusting manner.

I don't think those thinking the OP is NBU are calling for the receptionist to be sacked, either. I merely empathise.

sauviogn yes I agree that is a factor too.

I think them chatting is more the point. You can just see, someone can be leaving a consult room having been tod they have a life threatening illness and there they are having a social chait chat.

I think I'm ranty about this as I had a threatened MC (having lost a twin) and the consultant who we waited ages to see took a call in the consult room and was talking to a collegue about the shift lat night and one to come in a social manner (not exhcanging medical info) and Im sat there in tears wondering.....

funny I just remembered that happened, 9 years ago now.

Who has behaved like an 'idiot'- the receptionist?? That's more than a bit harsh!

Yeah I'll stand corrected there. On a long thread there were lots of people referring to the staff member as 'nurse' and the OP being so far away I forgot precise wording.

So no, not clinical specialist, apologies, my bad. But still working in neurology should mean professionalism should be shown.

Sorry to hear that thinking, things like that stay with you.

not about qualifications and training either

it is about common decency or the modern term - emotional intelligence.

thank you sauv I hae fed that back and one other thing (worse) to the campaign and to a friend as an insert who is doing a project (she is a consultant) about sensitivity in NHS.

Working in any specialty you may come across people who hear bad news. This clinic may be in a general hospital and the reception desk may cover Dermatology, Orthopaedics and Gynaecology to name but a few.

I never said the OP stated any of those thing Gobby?

I was going from 1 extreme to the other.

Also at no point have I kicked the OP. I told her I thought she was VU.

funny I don't think that everyone has to agree with her, but the fact remains that the receptionist was at work being paid to do a job and was behaving in an unprofessional manner. Now if you don' think that what she was saying was wrong why would you think that if the OP complained she would get the sack?