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.
ReplyDeleteIn response to anon @July 30 1:21 pm, and also in response to your previous post on elder abuse in nursing homes.
DeletePlease forgive me if I am misjudging your intentions, but I found both of your posts annoying and judgemental. Again, please excuse me if I am hurting your feelings or misjudged your meaning.
Why only elder abuse? Children who are abused in their homes, or elsewhere, are far more vulnerable, and the damage done to them is far greater. As a matter of fact, your question could be applied much more broadly as to why the innocent suffer. Hardly a subject for a short comment on a blog.
And why did you accuse the orthodox community of doing nothing? Have you done anything yourself, even in a small way, to stop this abuse? You wrote that you witnessed first hand two cases of elder abuse. Have you found out the names of these patients and contacted their families, so they can advocate for their family member? If not, why not? If this is a religious Jewish nursing home you can personally speak to the director and tell him what you witnessed. If this was in the US, you can also make an anonymous complaint. You can also contact your local Bikur Cholim to tell them what happened. Bikur cholim will send volunteers to visit and keep an eye on things.
Have you done anything at all? If you witnessed this, maybe you were meant to do something about it.Even in a small way. Passing the buck and speaking negatively about the religious community is frankly ugly.
And being annoyed at posters on this blog for posting about moshiach, and calling it "pie in the sky" is even more upsetting. Please show a little humility.
Are you aware that when moshiach comes there will be no more illness, no more death, no suffering and no more disabilities!
C S
I 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.