Derogatory terms or labels, often disguised as clinical language, used to discredit, demean, or pathologize a person's lived experience, identity, or health complaints. These are not formal diagnoses but weaponized pseudo-clinical terms deployed to dismiss patients (especially from marginalized groups) by implying their problems are "all in their head," a sign of weakness, or a character flaw. They shortcut medical investigation by blaming the patient.
Example: A woman with debilitating, unexplained chronic pain is told she's just "hysterical" (a term with a deeply sexist history pathologizing the uterus). A patient with complex symptoms is labeled a "frequent flyer" or "hypochondriac" by staff, ensuring their future concerns are met with eye-rolls, not exams. The slur "crocks" (for patients with "crock" of complaints) is used in some hospital slang. These terms serve to gatekeep medical resources and absolve clinicians from diagnostic effort. Medical Slurs.
by Dumuabzu January 25, 2026
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