I haven't taken the survey yet, but I expect the questions about blogging on "health and medicine" will be as imperfect a fit as other health blogging surveys I've taken in the past. But I'll take the survey and hope my participation makes some tiny difference amidst all the "health and medicine" blogging by smarmy and/or compassionate doctor blogs, weary and dedicated nurse blogs, insurance and managed care blogs, and whatever else qualifies. And I will graciously accept any award from a site or organization that says it seeks to honor those who "are squarely on the side of the patient."
But, you all know that "health and medicine" are not the topic of this blog, right? This blog is about social issues, culture and politics relating to disability rights. I realize there's some crossover that may be confusing, especially when I relate specifics of my impairments, hospital visits and such, but those are the details of how social issues, culture and politics come into play. They're the evidence of why disability rights is important. "Health" and "medicine" aren't even in my sidebar index (except as "health care" and "mental illness/health") because I don't perceive my writing here as promoting either health or medicine. Then again, neither "justice" or "respect" are in the index and they're what I think I'm writing about here every day.This isn't the first time I've gotten email that I feel may or may not miss the point. I've gotten offers for free accessibility software or discounted accessible bathtubs if I blog about the product. I've gotten link requests from health care corporations and, most amusingly, for President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, which I recall saying critical things about at least once prior to the request. When I hosted Disability Blog Carnival #2 and the theme was "the cure" I turned down one doctor's submission on bowel health. (Apparently, my audience includes those concerned about poo, which is possibly everyone.)
Either through poor emailing habits or formally declining, I've opted out of several writing opportunities to new sites like [with]tv, Wikis on dis rights, and Disaboom, mainly because I don't want my primary goals for this blog to be used for someone else's corporate gain. And I don't want obligations to produce content to go beyond my having something relevant to write. Well, and also I am lazy.
I often wonder how the bigger bloggers field their email requests. Do they answer all or ignore most? In my worst nightmares I cannot imagine the in-boxes of Echidne or Jill at Feministe. I get a couple nice emails from CNN and I sort of freak out, you know? Though it did end well for me.
I've gotten some truly amazing emails, as well. A couple heartbreaking letters were sent from formerly institutionalized disabled people touched by my one-time CNN blog. The lawyer for Emilio Gonzales' mother thanked me for my coverage and support. One of Ruben Navarro's caregivers wrote to thank me and share that Ruben had a great sense of humor and has inspired her to persist in the field of mental health and disability. And the back-channel camaraderie with fellow dis bloggers that I love so much.
I don't really have any problem with this blog being categorized as about "health and medicine" so long as that never disqualifies it for the "social justice" or "politics" categories. I don't consider myself a "patient" or a "client" or a "customer of health care services" here, so much as a writer and activist. And hopefully a pain in the ass. But I will concede I am definitely "squarely on the side of the patient."
Image description: A small graphic banner reads "Health Leader 2007" with the date bracketed by gold stars.
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