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Personal Perspective-Julian Savulescu

The author suffered a serious leg injury that required surgery and left him with permanent damage. While in the hospital recovering, others tried to minimize his situation by saying he was lucky it wasn't worse or that he could still walk. The author found it irritating how easily others who had not experienced the injury could dismiss his misfortune and tell him to accept it.

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richard
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30 views3 pages

Personal Perspective-Julian Savulescu

The author suffered a serious leg injury that required surgery and left him with permanent damage. While in the hospital recovering, others tried to minimize his situation by saying he was lucky it wasn't worse or that he could still walk. The author found it irritating how easily others who had not experienced the injury could dismiss his misfortune and tell him to accept it.

Uploaded by

richard
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE—JULIAN SAVULESCU

Nearly two years ago I suffered a badly broken leg. Now I have a numb foot, metal holding my
leg together, large gaping holes in my calf from fasciotomies and skin grafts and an artery graft. I
may develop arthritis. I cannot do the things I used to most enjoy. I view it as a terrible loss.
Yet all these things were said to me at one time or another.
The commonest, especially while I was in hospital, were:
“You are so lucky you didn't lose the foot.”
“You are so lucky—at least you will be able to walk again.”
When one person found out it happened on a family skiing holiday, she said:
“Oh…well, you shouldn't have been enjoying yourself so much.”
Another said:
“It was your own fault.”
People frequently tried to help by pointing out how lucky I was in other ways:
“You have two beautiful healthy daughters. You should remember that.”
What was especially irritating was the ease with which other healthy able people were able to
accept my misfortune:
“It is a part of your life now—you have to accept it.”
“You should be happy doing what you can do. There are lots of things you can still do.”

A: Was there an accident on the freeway today?

B: You haven't heard about it?

A: No, do you know what happened?

B: This truck flipped over on the 210.

A: Are you serious?

B: I'm telling you the truth.

A: Did anyone get hurt?

B: Two people were injured.

A: Are they going to be okay?


B: I think so.

A: That's a miracle that no one was killed.

B: Yes, they were lucky.

A: What happened today on the freeway?

B: You don't know what happened?

A: What did happen?

B: There was a truck on the freeway, and it flipped over.

A: Really?

B: I wouldn't lie about something like that.

A: Were there any injuries?

B: I heard that a couple people got hurt.

A: Are they all right?

B: The news said they should be fine.

A: I'm glad to know that everyone made it out okay.

B: Me too.

A: I heard there was an accident today.

B: Nobody told you what happened?

A: Tell me the news.

B: A truck turned over on the freeway.

A: Are you kidding me?

B: I am completely serious.

A: Did anyone get hurt?


B: I believe that two people did get hurt.

A: Were the injuries minor?

B: I believe so.

A: That's great to hear.

B: Yes, it is

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