“The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors” by Dhruv Khullar looks at how metaphors can effect the way a patient conceptualizes their illness. Khullar analyzes the many different outcomes that the use of language and metaphors to describe and compare a person illness has on that persons physical and metal wellbeing. Through his observation and outside research Khullar was able to conclude that “ultimately, any metaphor – military or otherwise – is not inherently good or bad. Rather, the utility of each depends on a patient’s culture, values, experiences, and preferences.” 

“The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors” by Dhruv Khullar was very interesting and eye opening to me. Before reading Khullar’s work I never would have thought about how using terms such as “fighter” and “invaders” to describe medical terminology and illness could potentially have a negative effect on the patient. I have never really taken the time to think about how metaphors could impact a patient and I have never had a severe illness, but I guess I have always viewed it as how Khullar mentioned that metaphors allow doctors a way to develop a common language with patients and allows those close with the patients a way to understand and try to relate to support the patient the best they can. I never thought about the ways in which words could make a patient feel that they have to suppress their emotional distress and maintain a positive attitude to make those around them feel better. After reading “The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors” I feel that as metaphors in terms of medicine can be very beneficial to help a patient understand what their physicians is telling them and for some patients may be very beneficial in getting through the treat and recovery process of a severe illness. But on the other hand I can also see how the use of some metaphors can create expectations in the mind of the patient and be a limiting factor for some. Overall, I believe that as Khullar said “The words we choose to describe illness are powerful.” but I feel that it truly depends on the how the patient choose to interpret the metaphor and which lens they choose to view their illness through that will determine the outcome of their physical and mental well being. 

“In medicine the use of metaphor is pervasive.” 

I choose to use this quote because it was fairly simple and I feel like I could use it no matter which direction I choose to take my paper. 

“Metaphors are meant to help people to understand the unfamiliar” 

I felt like this metaphor could easily be related to health care and the prompt. 

“Metaphor is a way of thought before it is a way with words” 

I thought this could relate to the other side of how metaphors in health care could relate negatively with a patient.