We need more euphemisms. / myLot

Ireland

June 15, 2026 8:20pm CST

I’ve already told you that we went to the hospital today for my daughter’s cardiac review. I was born in that hospital. I dropped her and my wife at the entrance and went off to park. The car. When I was wandering about the corridors trying to find the place my daughter had to visit I saw a sign for “special investigations”!! Yes such a sign deserves two exclamation marks. My mind went all over the show trying to figure out what ailment would require “special investigations” and concluded that it was not an ailment from which I would ever want to suffer. My poor mind was boggling. It also sparked a memory. I worked in that hospital a long time ago when I was about 20. I worked at the reception desk in the emergency room and you didn’t get to see a doctor without passing through me. Just across from the ER was what was called the Special Clinic. I noticed that most people going in there did so with bowed heads and with their collars turned up and often wearing sun glasses, looking furtive. It took a while for me to work out that this was what today is called the Clinic for Genito-Urinary Medicine - the VD clinic, Clap clinic or whatever you want to call it. Wasn’t Special Clinic such a sweet euphemism?

7 people like this

8 responses

Amber

@AmbiePam (121144)

• United States

16h

Oh, heavens. I’d hate to have to go there.

4 people like this

@DaddyEvil (174707)

• United States

15h

I'd be embarrassed going into that type of clinic, too.

3 people like this

Gary Marsh

@garymarsh6 (24078)

• United Kingdom

11h

Yes It got so bad at one time as each profession had their own abbreviations & euphenisms which meant different things to other professions that they were asked not to use them to reduce confusion. The special clinic being one such place.

2 people like this

Fleur

@Fleura (35124)

• United Kingdom

13h

Very sweet - but of course as with all euphemisms soon enough everyone gets to know what it means. By the way did you find out what the 'special investigations' might be?

1 person likes this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (14805)

• Ireland

11h

@fleura Still a mystery. I might go and sit outside it one day and watch people going in and out and try to tell from their demeanour and facial expressions what happens behind that door.

1 person likes this

Fleur

@Fleura (35124)

• United Kingdom

@xFiacre That would be entertaining

1 person likes this

Baconstripsxxx

@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18167)

• Torrington, Connecticut

“Special Investigations” would absolutely set my imagination running wild too ?? It sounds less like a hospital department and more like somewhere you’d be summoned in a mystery novel. I’d probably assume they were investigating rare tropical diseases or unexplained medical mysteries.

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (14805)

• Ireland

@baconstripsxxx I think it might be where you’re taken if you the authorities hear you’ve been having too many naughty dreams.

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382542)

• Rockingham, Australia

13h

They're saying syphilis is on the rise in Australia. They might be needing more Special Clinics too.

2 people like this

Fiacre Banks

@xFiacre (14805)

• Ireland

11h

@judyev And there’s another euphemism - Sexually Transmitted Infections used to be called Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Before that Venereal Diseases.

2 people like this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17244)

• China

There seemed not to be such a Special Clinic when you worked there.

Traceyjayne

@Traceyjayne (11515)

• United Kingdom

Just now

Hope all was well concerning your daughters cardiac review ….. I would have had to snoop around the door of the ‘Special Investigations’ department.