An important area of speech which is considered constructive is that which helps to relieve someone of psychological or emotional damage caused by others.
It is permissible for anyone who is suffering emotionally or psychologically to seek appropriate help even if this involves discussions of people and events that would otherwise constitute lashon hara. If possible, names should be omitted, and only pertinent information should be shared.
The Chofetz Chaim speculates that it may be considered constructive for a person troubled by an issue to unburden himself to someone even if only to relieve himself of stress.
Obviously, this applies to especially difficult situations and not to the daily vicissitudes of life.
CHOFETZ CHAIM
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That's good to know. Thanks for this post, because I sometimes feel the need to vent, and raise awareness, about the state of unhealthcare, and how the the community turns a blind eye to its abuses. In the past the topics of spousal and child abuse were covered up, until more and more victims and askanim opened up about it. But as far as I know, nobody prominent is advocating or giving heartbroken speeches on behalf of those caught within the clutches of "uncare" centers, with the exception of halachic issues such as respirators, autopsies, cremation, etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about American health care centres, but isn't there somewhere to report cases of abuse?
ReplyDeleteAny kind of abuse in Australia is usually dealt with and people have been jailed for abuse of the vulnerable. Although as you say, in the past, things were different.