By: Hailey Miller, Staff Writer
Unwelcome medical advice is inappropriate in any situation, yet people with disabilities and chronic health conditions have to put up with it on a regular basis. As someone who was born with a permanent physical disability, I’m no stranger to unsolicited comments made by people who think their unprofessional advice will be helpful. From opinions on certain treatments, to taking a certain medication that’s supposedly a “cure-all,” I’ve heard everything there is to hear about every medical advancement under the sun — whether it’s relevant to my disability or not. I’m 100% sure your unsolicited advice won’t help me.
Unsolicited medical advice can do more harm than good, and can dehumanize people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who are doing their best. Many of us are already undergoing more treatments, have more appointments, and take more medications than you’d believe humanly possible. We’d rather go about our lives without the unwanted opinions of those who have no medical training beyond a quick Google search or WebMD. Often, their ignorance comes from the idea that every person with a certain condition must be the same as the next, because they know or have heard of someone with the same condition. This is not the case. No matter what disability or illness someone has, we’re all unique — and disabilities affect everyone differently.
My personal experiences are worth more than the suggestions of a know-it-all. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people tell me I should try stem cell therapy. Although this may help people with certain conditions — such as some cancers and autoimmune disorders — it won’t do anything for me. Some treatments are just not necessary and can even cause further harm. What works for me is staying active and fit, stretching, and incorporating as much movement as possible so I can stay mobile. However, this also isn’t a catch-all solution for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Your unqualified opinion isn’t going to get us anywhere but backwards.
I walk predominantly with forearm crutches when I’m in public because I need extra support and balance in crowded spaces and when carrying things. Growing up, I also used a posterior walker for a few years, and I spent four years of my life using a wheelchair. The moment I got out of it, I vowed to myself to never use one again. That’s my personal preference — everyone is different. Despite this, I’ve had multiple strangers throughout my life tell me I should try a walking frame, a different style of crutch, a different mobility device, or they’re just baffled as to why I’m not in a wheelchair and am mobile with my condition.
These reactions are not only degrading to my physical mobility, but they’re also completely dehumanizing. I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am today, and to be told by Average Joe on the street that I should theoretically be worse off or try something else because I’m not cured is laughably unbelievable. There’s no cure for what I have — and clearly there’s no cure for their unsolicited remarks, either.
Any kind of unsolicited medical advice — no matter what the treatment, for whatever condition — is unacceptable. Supporting a loved one and helping with appointments, medications, and symptoms is one thing, but your unqualified opinion isn’t going to get us anywhere but backwards. Sometimes, doing too much causes more harm than good. Unsolicited medical advice overlooks those of us who have experienced our disability or illness for longer than you can imagine. So, next time you interact with a disabled or chronically ill person, remember, we’ve already heard it, we’re doing what we can, and we’re just living our lives.
