"Still, it gave her something useful to do."

October 15, 2024 7:37 AM

Two short speculative stories in which characters deal with medical gatekeeping. “This Week in Clinical Dance: Urgent Care at the Hastings Center” by Lauren Ring (published June 2024): "Brigitte Cole presents with lower abdominal pain, nausea, and a long-sleeved black leotard." Bitter satire that "draws upon my own experiences as a disabled woman navigating the US healthcare system." "It’s in the Blood" by Susan Kaye Quinn (published July 2024): "Full disclosure. More than you’d get in a clinical trial, which this was, only the illegal kind." A rebel activist struggles with disability and with the promise she's created.
posted by brainwane (2 comments total)

i'm experiencing these hardships. i will read, though it will be difficult to see my misery amplified and reflected. thanks for posting.
posted by lapolla at 12:56 PM on October 15 [1 favorite]

I remember being in the ER, doubled over in agony from what would turn out to be perforated diverticulitis, and having the staff there sigh and roll their eyes and shunt me aside and ignore me for a couple of hours until they apparently decided I was -not- just faking it for drugs, pulled my head out of the toilet, and actually got me into some semblance of care. Apparently, if you're not actually spraying blood everywhere, you're probably just being dramatic.
posted by The otter lady at 2:05 PM on October 15