“Politically correct” has become a powerful cultural meme that transforms our language and the way we communicate.  It can signal a level of respect for a group of people – “garbage collectors” became “sanitation engineers”, and Whole Foods calls their employees “team members”.  Marketers have been quick to inflate the value of their products with new terminology.  The downscale “used car” became “pre-owned”, and so much more appealing.

One would think that healthcare language, anchored in the solid world of science, would be immune to PC terminology.  While no one has found a better way to say “lipids” which is already an improvement over “fats”, the language of healthcare continues to  morph in response to public sensibilities and scientific insights.