In patient education, inclusive health communication is essential. Using language that is respectful, empowering and accurate can greatly impact patient understanding and engagement.
As society’s understanding of inclusive language evolves, terms that were acceptable in the past may no longer be appropriate. This post offers insights into inclusive health communication, highlighting terms to avoid and suggesting alternatives that enhance your professional communication.
These before-and-after sentences demonstrate how subtle language adjustments can make health communication more effective and empowering.
Importantly, these are simply suggestions for enhancing your professional communication with inclusive language. You may not agree with all of them… and that’s perfectly fine! My goal with this inclusive health communication list is to encourage you to consider various ways to connect with your readers, as not all suggestions work in every context.
Ultimately, the most important thing is communicating in a way that best meets your readers’ needs, as different terms resonate with different audiences. The choice is always yours.
Examples of inclusive language changes
Term to avoid |
Inclusive choice |
Reason |
Before and after |
| Suffering from | Living with Has Affected by |
“Suffering” implies a negative experience that might not align with the person’s feelings or reality. | Before: A friend or family member suffering from diabetes. After: A friend or family member living with diabetes. |
| Victim of | Survivor of Person with Individual affected by |
“Victim” can be disempowering and define the person by their condition. | Before: She is a victim of cancer. After: She is a survivor of cancer. |
| Afflicted with | Diagnosed with Has Living with |
“Afflicted” suggests helplessness or a burden, which can be stigmatising. | Before: He is afflicted with multiple sclerosis. After: He has multiple sclerosis. |
| Confined to a wheelchair | Uses a wheelchair | The term “confined” focuses on limitations rather than mobility and independence. | Before: She is confined to a wheelchair. After: She uses a wheelchair. |
| Mentally ill | Person with a mental health condition Person experiencing mental health challenges |
This term can be overly broad and stigmatising. It’s better to be specific and person-first. | Before: He is mentally ill. After: He has a mental health condition. |
| Addict or substance abuser | Person with substance use disorder Person with a substance use challenge |
These terms can be judgmental and reduce a person to their condition. | Before: He is an addict. After: He has a substance use disorder. |
| Failed treatment | Treatment was not successful Treatment did not achieve desired outcomes |
“Failed” places blame on the patient or treatment rather than acknowledging the complexity of health outcomes. | Before: The person failed the treatment. After: The treatment did not achieve the desired outcomes for the person. |
| Normal (when referring to health status) | Typical Usual Expected |
“Normal” can imply that those outside of this definition are “abnormal”, which is stigmatising. | Before: Her blood pressure is back to normal. After: Her blood pressure is within the expected range. |
| Complains of | Reports Experiences Describes |
“Complains” can sound dismissive and may downplay the patient’s experience. | Before: She complains of chest pain. After: She reports experiencing chest pain. |
| Non-compliant | Did not follow the treatment plan Chooses not to adhere to Faced barriers to following the treatment plan |
“Non-compliant” can sound judgmental and doesn’t take into account the reasons behind the patient’s decisions. | Before: The person is non-compliant with the medication. After: The person faced barriers to following the treatment plan. |
| The elderly | Older adults Seniors |
“The elderly” can be impersonal and lump a diverse group into one category. | Before: The elderly are at higher risk for complications. After: Older adults are at higher risk for complications. |
| Died from* | Passed away due to Succumbed to |
“Died from” can feel harsh and insensitive, especially in sensitive contexts. | Before: He died from heart disease. After: He passed away due to heart disease. |
| Incurable | Chronic Long-term Condition that cannot be cured |
“Incurable” can sound hopeless and final, whereas alternatives focus on managing the condition. | Before: The disease is incurable. After: The disease is chronic and requires long-term management. |
| Hopeless case | Complex case Challenging condition |
“Hopeless” is demoralising and implies that nothing can be done, which may not be true. | Before: The patient was considered a hopeless case. After: The patient has a complex condition that requires careful management. |
| Admitted for | Hospitalised due to Receiving care for |
“Admitted for” can be overly clinical and impersonal, while alternatives provide more context and compassion. | Before: She was admitted for pneumonia. After: She was hospitalised due to pneumonia. |
| Terminal patient | Patient with a terminal illness Individual in the end stage of a disease |
Labelling someone as a “terminal patient” defines them by their prognosis rather than as a person. | Before: He is a terminal patient. After: He is a patient with a terminal illness. |
| Hysterical | Highly distressed Emotionally overwhelmed Experiencing a panic attack |
“Hysterical” is outdated and can be seen as dismissive, especially of women. | Before: She was hysterical in the emergency room. After: She was highly distressed in the emergency room. |
| Suicide victim | Person who died by suicide* Lost to suicide |
“Victim” can carry stigma, whereas alternatives focus on the person and avoid judgment. | Before: He was a suicide victim. After: He died by suicide. |
| Disease burden | Impact of the disease Challenges of living with the disease |
“Burden” implies a heavy load, which can be stigmatising and insensitive. | Before: The disease burden is high in this population. After: The impact of the disease is significant in this population. |
| Handicapped | Person with a disability Person with special needs |
“Handicapped” is often viewed as derogatory and can emphasise limitations rather than abilities. | Before: We have parking spaces reserved for handicapped individuals. After: We have parking spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities. |
| Disease-stricken | Living with a disease Affected by a health condition |
“Stricken” suggests being overwhelmed or defeated by the disease, which can be disempowering. | Before: You are disease-stricken and require immediate care. After: You are living with a disease and require immediate care. |
| Depressed person | Person experiencing depression Individual with depression |
Labelling someone as a “depressed person” can reduce them to their condition rather than acknowledging them as a whole person. | Before: You are a depressed person who may need therapy. After: You are a person experiencing depression and may benefit from therapy. |
| Morbidly obese | Person with a higher body weight Individual with obesity |
“Morbidly obese” is often perceived as harsh and judgmental, focusing on extreme negativity rather than a person’s overall health.
|
Before: You are morbidly obese and at risk for health complications. After: You have a higher body weight and may be at risk for health complications. |
Additional inclusive health communication tips
Follow these tips to keep your language suitable for your target audience:
- Avoid jargon: Use plain English and clear language that a general audience can easily understand; use a readability tool or an artificial intelligence (AI) writing tool to help
- Focus on agency: Highlight the person’s role in managing their health, rather than framing them as passive recipients of care
- Respect diversity: Be aware of cultural differences and individual preferences in language use, and strive for inclusivity
- Use person-first language: Focus on the person rather than the condition (eg, “person with diabetes” instead of “diabetic”)
- Encourage empowerment: Use language that empowers your readers and avoids defining them by their conditions
- Be sensitive: Be mindful of the emotional impact of words and strive for compassion and understanding
- Use words with fewer syllables: Cutting out syllables improves readability
- Check relevant language guidelines: Some peak bodies release dedicated communication guidelines and medical writing style guides that cover language usage.
Making responsible and informed language choices helps foster a more positive, respectful and inclusive health communication style.
*To clarify my suggestions regarding the use of “died from,” the phrases “passed away due to” or “succumbed to” are intended to foster a respectful approach to discussing medical conditions. In contrast, the term “person who died by suicide” aims to reduce stigma and acknowledge the complexities of mental health. While these suggestions may seem contradictory, the contexts here are quite different; while “died from” typically refers to straightforward medical conditions, discussing suicide involves deeper social and psychological factors that require care and sensitivity.
Language continually evolves, and adapting our communication is essential for promoting understanding and empathy. This is especially important when discussing sensitive topics, such as the phrase “died from a heart attack,” which can significantly impact families who have lost loved ones. This blog targets health writers who create patient education materials for families and carers, emphasising the need for gentle language during such vulnerable times. Though it can be subjective, the word “died” can feel harsher than the phrase “passed away”.
If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, you understand that using kinder language can help ease the burden of grief. This small adjustment can make a meaningful difference in how we support those who are mourning.
The final word on inclusive language
Finally, a reminder that these inclusive health communication tips are simply suggestions, not strict rules – and I know not everyone agrees with everything listed above. The most important thing is communicating in a way that best suits your patients and audience.
Everyone has unique preferences and needs, so feel empowered to express yourself in whichever style resonates most with them.
Effective communication is about making connections and ensuring understanding, so choose the approach that you believe will be most beneficial for those you’re engaging with!
Want to read more? This blog on why language matters in mental health offers some interesting insights.
