Today I witnessed what could only be described as a furious shitstorm via my lesser used Facebook feed. It contains a vast majority of highly opinionated, self-righteous do-gooders and as such I tend to avoid checking in and reading it. But today was not one of those days and I logged in to find a steady stream of outrage regarding the comments made by Chamali Fernando, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Cambridge.
For those who haven’t yet read the story, it can be read here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/calls-for-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-chamali-fernando-to-stand-for-saying-mentally-ill-people-could-wear-wristbands-10176267.html
And here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-england-32299433
And also here: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-candidates-clash-claims-people-mental/story-26329803-detail/story.html
You get the gist. Almost every article almost instantly descends in to a Godwin’s Law frenzy of Nazi comparatives and public outcry. But people seem to be missing the point. She didn’t say that we should colour code all mentally ill people, hand out handy “how to spot a nutter and identify them by colour code” guides and declare it open season to hunt them down and berate them publicly. She didn’t say it should be compulsory requirement or that it need be a wristband at all. What she suggested was that members of society with invisible illnesses (as that seems to be the new buzzword these days) or commonly misinterpreted behaviours due to illness should perhaps think about carrying some form of easily identifiable identification in case of emergency, or misidentification in a situation where perhaps they are unable to identify themselves or inform people of their needs. The key part of it being voluntary. Which is ironic, as when a politician suggests it, it’s criticised and they’re called upon to resign, bombarded with hate and abuse. Yet we’ve been colour coding ourselves in this respect for some time now. You can already purchase colour coded disability wristbands for sufferers, supporters and the like. Charity ribbons – colour coded for awareness. We’re more than happy to wear these pointless bloody things in the guise of raising awareness or promoting acceptance, but when it’s suggested that we perhaps consider carrying a card or a bracelet if we suffer from an invisible illness, which could greatly impact how people react towards somebody in an emergency situation, it’s suddenly bigoted and promotes segregation and stigmatises mental illness?
There’s even a handy guide already available to the deciphering of such colour codes, which we’ve already voluntarily implemented upon ourselves! http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/ribbons.php
It only takes a second to type it in to Ebay and find all sorts of ‘gift ideas’ of pre-produced silicone wristbands and metallic jewellery for the sick and disabled. A quick search has already brought up medical ID bands for: Epilepsy, allergies, pacemakers, dementia, autism, bipolar disorder, bleeding disorders, diabetes, COPD, post-traumatic stress disorder, high cholesterol, narcolepsy, cerebral palsy, vertigo, claustrophobia, ADHD, dyslexia, migraines, sleep apnoea, Asperger’s, warfarin users, transplant patient, asthma, gastric bypass, attention deficit disorder, dialysis patient, pregnancy, deafness, stroke, Parkinson’s, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia, angina, emotional support dog ID tags, panic attacks, hypoglycaemia, osteoporosis, colitis, chemotherapy, arthritis, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression and finally, admittedly it is a joke listing, but; man flu. Most of which are available in both child and adult sizes – even the PTSD, migraines, schizophrenia and bipolar ones. For kids.
As you can see, we clearly have no problem with labelling ourselves and our children with brightly coloured tags, labels and diagnostic bracelets already. The market already exists where you can flog them to the more than willing mentally ill public who are obviously so clearly against the idea that they’ve voluntarily gone as far as creating a database of colour codes for easy reference and created themselves a mass market of unwell and disordered people chomping at the bit to purchase colour coded medical branding jewellery.
But wait, I thought that we didn’t want to stigmatise people by suggesting the wearing coloured jewellery to make people more aware of their needs!
“But, but… Oh no, it’s voluntary, they’ve chosen to wear it, for raising awareness!” you say?
…What, just like Ms. Fernando suggested? Voluntary identification methods for those most vulnerable and likely to be involved in a situation where it would be seriously bloody useful to know in advance that they’ve got a medical condition? Like the aforementioned Medicalert type bracelets already worn by people with diabetes, epilepsy, HIV+, autism. Like the medical cards held in the wallets of so many people with various conditions in which it becomes incredibly important to know such things when dealing with them in a situation where perhaps they are unable to communicate themselves? What a dreadful idea that’d be, being able to best assist a person in need of urgent care and attention in the most suitable manner in a prompt and timely manner because of a medical ID card or alert bracelet? Shocker. It’s a method which has been used voluntarily for years. Even in hospitals: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/nyregion/25bracelets.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 where emergency workers in the USA have been using them for some time now to facilitate better front line patient care.
I don’t believe for a minute that she was implying we tattoo a diagnosis across the foreheads of every person suffering from mental illness, nor force them to wear a glaring, shiny, neon colour coded tag whenever they leave the house. Perhaps a better worded headline for the newspapers would have been “Conservative candidate supports the use of carrying emergency medical ID for high risk patients” or “Conservative candidate in shock common sense suggestion to carry relevant medical information with you when out and about.” But then that isn’t quite as catchy as “Conservative candidate is a mental illness hating Nazi” now, is it? People complain enough when their illness or disability is overlooked or lacks acceptance, yet they will go out and purchase these things by themselves only to then go screaming and crying “injustice!!!” the minute someone healthy suggests to them it’s a good idea to carry such forms of ID in case they’re involved in a scenario where it’d become potentially lifesaving to be carrying it. Would they rather not and just be treated as if they weren’t disabled or ill? Because we cannot adjust to every single possibility when it comes to emergency patient care or split second crisis management decisions, as specific care for one disorder may kill someone with a different disorder. If you need special treatment, make it known, because we’re not mind readers and you’ll be treated as if you’re perfectly normal unless it is otherwise made clear, as that’s the only way to ensure consistent and high level of successful intervention and most appropriate treatment to the vast majority of people in emergency situations right across the board. There are ways and means to facilitate the passing of information in such situations. It need not be a flashing neon wristband like everyone has jumped to the conclusion of. There is already the universally recognised medical alert symbol, which needs not disclose your condition to all and sundry, but merely makes the observer aware that there is a medical condition to be aware of – and usually the required information is inscribed discretely behind the bracelet or necklace, or is written on a card in the person’s wallet. Not on display for all to see. If you’ve a condition where you’re so worried about how you may be treated in an emergency or crisis situation, do yourself a favour and don’t blame those trying to help you – instead, make that information easily accessible when it is required – be it a small medical alert charm, wristband or necklace, a key ring or a card in the wallet. Nobody can realistically complain when people are injured or killed in emergencies due to ‘inappropriate’ responses regarding invisible medical conditions if the sufferer themselves doesn’t at least make an effort to make it visible when it matters.
– Drunken Ptarmigan
