"Circling the Drain" is a new one on me (warning: insensitive)

[swag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circling_the_drain

The term "circling the drain" refers to a patient who is on a slow and irreversible downward spiral towards death, but is a long way from finally dying. The phrase is now used in a broader context to apply to a person, institution or era which is clearly unable to reverse a long downward decline. It is used in business to describe business practices that stave off short term cash flow problems but lead to customer alienation. In gambling, particularly poker, the term describes a period where a person is on a long losing streak, or is affected by bad playing habits. The phrase is often abbreviated to CTD.

In a medical context a patient who is "circling the drain" has refused to give up and has a strong will to live. The negative connotations are primarily directed at those who have to attend to the patient, because they may develop excessive attachment, or have families who have falsely raised expectations about eventual recovery. In business, the term refers to projects that are clearly not going to reach completion, but which have not yet been canceled, or to companies that are engaging in self-destructive behavior to stave off insolvency.

[NMMNG]

1. The medical context is pretty crass, IMO

x(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. I can understand using it to refer to a business;

but to say that of someone who's dying is bloody cold-hearted if you ask me. :beer:

[swag]

3. All occupations have their lingos.

Even the medical care professions.

[MadHound]

16. Maybe, if taken out of context

However this is back room medical professionals only black humor. Much in the same veins as firefighters, police and EMT black humor. It provides an outlet for keeping one's sanity when the shit is hitting the fan, and death is all around.

I worked as a firefighter for a number of years when I was younger. Circling the drain and cripy critters are some of the more tame expressions. You would be appalled at some of what we joked and laughed about. But if we didn't have this sort of outlet, we would quickly go crazy.

This language isn't used around the public, it is strictly an in house deal. Sure, sometimes it slips, but that is rare and the vast majority of the time the families and those concerned don't hear it, thus no harm is done.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. Even so,

I wonder how those same professionals feel about the term when a loved one is "circling the drain"? I understand the kind of humor; but it needs to be used with exceptional care...beyond avoiding its use around family and friends, I think...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I am very familiar with this term, since I worked in hospitals for MANY

years.....Critical care units......

As far as I heard, the term actually meant someone who was actively dying, NOT refusing to die.

Of course, we NEVER said it around the families.....that would have shown extreme disrespect.

And believe me when I tell you that in order to keep our sanity in such units, we needed all the humor we could get our hands on.


Even things that might look disrespectful to someone outside the medical/nursing professions.

[swag]

5. Wow. Good explanation and clarification.

Thanks.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. You're welcome, my dear swag.....

SOME things I do know, and this is one of them....

[tuvor]

7. M*A*S*H was so ubiquitous not so long ago.

It was just a sitcom in the end, but it gave you an opportunity to appreciate the need for black humour.

Geez, you'd think folks here'd be cutting medical workers a little slack here!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I thank you, my dear tuvor.......

For your understanding......:hug:

[supernova]

15. I agree

It might sound crass to someone who hasn't had to work in that arena, but the outlet is necessary, believe me.

I spent four years working in a cancer center with dying patients. I know the drill.

[jpgray]

8. It's also an OCD pre-shower ritual

[swag]

10. I keep my right big toenail 2 cm longer than the left one

and tap the metal rim of the drain thrice with the longer nail to ensure that I get good water with no disaster.

[Richardo]

11. .

:rofl:

[swag]

12. Kick for Friday afternoon edification.

[libodem]

13. Gomer

is another one but i can't remember what it stands for

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. Hi, libodem!

I know this one as well. GOMER: Get Out of My Emergency Room.

It refers to the chronically ill, usually/often elderly folk who frequent ER's....

Any sort of person who is seen as a loser.....medically speaking, of course....

This one I do NOT like...it is not funny to me.

It is to some folks,though....:shrug:

[Kali]

21. In animal breeding it is a term meaning a late castrated

male used to tease females to check for heat or to help bring into heat.

(or other form of sterile yet ... um, ... active)

[Texasgal]

18. I've worked triage

and I have worked hospice, I am an RN and have NEVER heard of this term before!

[Whoa_Nelly]

19. Global Climate

Circling the Drain

[swag]

22. You are correct, sir!

[Whoa_Nelly]

23. um...Make that SIRS!

:rofl:

[swag]

24. Sirs, yes sirs!

[KitchenWitch]

20. I have heard this one before

yes tasteless.