Language Use, Violation of Medical Ethics and the Deterioration of Patient’s Ill-Health

Abstract

Any form of deviation from the established ethics of any profession amounts to violation of professional ethics. These days, medical professionals are fond of violating medical ethics. This study seeks to dissect the place of language in the violation of medical ethics by professionals of the field. The primary data are sourced from observation and thirty (30) informants, who had experienced language misuse and violation of medical ethics by health professionals while they were patients. The secondary data are obtained from library and internet materials. Content analysis and objective approach are employed in the analysis of the data. The analysis proves that most medical professionals violate the ethics of the profession by using language negatively while rendering services to patients. Consequently, patient’s ill-health situation deteriorates. The study concludes that wrong or negative use of language leads to the violation of medical ethics. It charges medical professionals to maintain their professional ethics at all times and be well-mannered in using language to communicate with patients, so as to heal rather than deteriorate patients’ ill-health situation.