Autism Patients?
January 10, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Numerous news sources have been reporting today about how scientists at eleven universities will be joining together to create a databank of DNA samples from 3,000 “autism patients” (as noted in an Associated Press story that can be read in such news outlets as MLive.com, the Detroit Free Press).
Patients?
This word would seem to imply that the DNA samples will be taken from autistic persons who are in some kind of clinical or institutional setting.
I am not sure if this is what was meant?
Patients? Interesting choice of words. Like you, I wonder why that word was chosen to describe participants and who chose it in the first place. Was it a mis-quote or paraphrase at some point? I guess we’ll never know.
It looks like most of the news outlets reprinted the AP article, which contains “autism patients.” A mis-understanding, I’m wondering?
I don’t know if 3,000 will be good enough. Good luck to them, though.
I consider my son to be a “patient” of the local Childrens Hospital autism unit, even though he’s never stayed over night there. Just like I consider him a “patient” of his “regular” pediatrician.
“Patient” is from the Latin patior, pati, passus sum and means to “suffer” and also to “endure” — as our kids have to do, too often.
What does that have to do with whether the word applies?
The etymology shows why there are different meanings for the word “patient,” both as one who is ill and “suffers,” and one who “endures” hardship.
Neither of which seem to have much to do with what looks to be medicalization.