<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
N>Just what is labeling theory?  In brief, this is the application of an
N>impersonal term to a person (or group of people) who is receiving
N>assistive services from medical, mental health or social services
N>providers.  Theapplication of a label allows the service provider to do
N>two things...
 
N>It is the difference between saying "I have celiac sprue" and saying
N>"I am celiac sprue".
 
in RE: GARY ROBERTS
I think the reference of the institutional depersonalizaation of "the
gallbladder in Bed 31B" instead of 'Mrs. Smith" has been long belabored
professionaly.
 
I guess I have referred to myself and others as a"celiac".  I have heard
many people say "I am a Diabetic". I think maybe communication is more
important than nit-picking.
 
My objection to the list-labelling, has been the connectivity issue.
Many "who have Celiac/sprue" have other conditions. Some of the list
members seem to want to indicate that having celiac/sprue means that we
are all subject to having every one of these other conditions. All
celiacs do not have autism or Parkinson's or hypothyroidism. Some are
cold; others are not. Some of the summaries seem to want to indicate a
global context, where it does not exist. I have celiac/sprue disease. My
way of dealing with my conditiion may vary from that of some who have
other concomitant problems along with having celiac/sprue.AMS