Doctors in Australia want to rename body parts named after ‘men, kings and gods,’ such as Achilles heel and Adam’s apple, as they are ‘misogynistic’ and ‘irrelevant.
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Dr. Kristin Small, specialist obstetrician, anatomy lecturer, and gynecologist tells her students to stop the use of such terms as she believes they represent older generations.
In an interview with the Courier Mail, Dr. Small said: “I think we have a personal choice to decolonise our language and these historical terms will fade out.”
The doctor also says there are many alternatives for the names of ‘dead men’ but makes sure her pupils know the eponyms for examinations.
Dr. Nisha Khot, a council member for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is also teaching trainee medics to search and use alternative terms.
“The young trainee doctors are mostly keen to learn the more relevant language and are often shocked when they hear the origins of some medical terms,” Dr. Khot expressed.
“The push for change may have started in the area of women’s health but the conversation is now in the wider health community. It just makes sense for the medics but also for the patients to use more understandable terms.,” Dr. Khot added.
According to a report published by American researchers, one out of 700 anatomical and histological eponyms was named after a woman.
One internet user commented: “When does this end? Are we renaming Newton’s laws or Einstein’s theory of relativity?”
Another wrote: “Maybe this explains why there are so few women pioneers. They are obssessed with trivia and things that don’t matter. Men explore, women exploit. Men take risks, women play safe. Men build up, women tear down.”
A third added: “So ridiculous. Let’s just retool the entire English language and leave out all the words that offend someone.”
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Replaced!