(LML) Beware of Procrustean bed

Leprosy Mailing List – May 14,  2019

Ref.:    (LML) Beware of Procrustean bed

From:  Ajit P, Maharashtra, India

---

Respected Sir,

Procrustes ''the stretcher'' refers to a character from Greek mythology. He was a robber who lived near Eleusis in Attica. Feigning hospitality to travellers, he would offer them a bed that would fit them perfectly. What Procrustes would not tell them was if they were too long, he would cut off their limbs to fit the bed. If they were too short, he would stretch them until they fit. The term ''Procrustean bed'' can be paraphrased as an arbitrary standard to which conformity is forced. (1)

This "one size fits all" approach is what is at the root of the problem in leprosy control.

Till such time, we individualise care for highly bacillated cases like histoid leprosy, our control efforts will not bear fruition.

Thanks,

Dr Ajit.

References

1) Baskerville JR. Observer and subject bias: lessons from procrustes. Acad Emerg Med. 2010 Sep;17(9):1032. 

---

LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com