Is "indigent" pejorative?

[fingerscrossedd]

Hey all,

Filling out work activities and came across this question while describing shadowing a doc who worked with underserved populations. I've already said "underserved" and do not want to re-use it, and was wondering if using "indigent" was appropriate or not. Sorry if it's a silly question...just want to make sure.

Thanks and good luck this week! 😍😍😍

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[tantacles]

Hey all,

Filling out work activities and came across this question while describing shadowing a doc who worked with underserved populations. I've already said "underserved" and do not want to re-use it, and was wondering if using "indigent" was appropriate or not. Sorry if it's a silly question...just want to make sure.

Thanks and good luck this week! 😍😍😍

It's appropriate but probably not the most respectful word. Underserved really is the best word, and regardless of whether you've said it before or not, I'd repeat it. Medical school admissions committees are extremely unlikely to comb through your application to make sure that you've used a thesaurus; the content is what's important.

 

[fingerscrossedd]

It's appropriate but probably not the most respectful word. Underserved really is the best word, and regardless of whether you've said it before or not, I'd repeat it. Medical school admissions committees are extremely unlikely to comb through your application to make sure that you've used a thesaurus; the content is what's important.

gotcha, good advice. thanks!

 

[sinombre]

For what it's worth, I've seen the word "pejorative" in plenty of peer-reviewed public health papers. I don't think it really matters, but I guess it's always good to err on the side of caution if you can.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

Underserved really is the best word.

Unless of course you're talking about indigent people.

/death to political correctness

 

[tantacles]

Unless of course you're talking about indigent people.

/death to political correctness

I agree with you completely. However, since OP's goal is not to change the system but rather to get into medical school, underserved will likely serve his application the best. After all, most indigent patients are, in fact, underserved, and in context, most Adcom members will assume that underserved patients are indigent.

 

[LizzyM]

I agree with you completely. However, since OP's goal is not to change the system but rather to get into medical school, underserved will likely serve his application the best. After all, most indigent patients are, in fact, underserved, and in context, most Adcom members will assume that underserved patients are indigent.

I wouldn't.

The Indigent. Another word is "the poor". or maybe you like "the destitute."

Underserved means that they lack access to services. While some poor folks lack access, others have access and, at the same time, some people who are not poor lack access and might be called underserved.