title: Ethereal and material gain: unanticipated opportunity with illness or disability.
abstract: When caregivers address the positive aspects of illness or disability, there is a risk of patronising the sufferer. It is equally problematic when secondary gain is judged in a negative light and impedes an effective doctor-patient relationship. Changing attitudes, and particularly the negative perception of a patient's gain from illness, are reflected in biographies of artists, philosophers and other creative individuals. In contrast, some memoirs about illness feature a retrospective discussion of the positive features of the experience - from one who is now free from the ordeal. The experience of continual sufferers may be more instructive. We examine contemporary examples of unanticipated advantage or gain arising from ongoing disability or illness. The contribution of disability/illness to remarkable achievement promotes enhanced self-appreciation for patients and may foster in others a better understanding of what it means to suffer and live with disability.
authors.affiliation: University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Seamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: Fergus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shanahan
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D008091:Literature / Q000266:history*; D009146:Music / Q000266:history*
keywords: Arts; disability; dyslexia; illness; medical humanities; secondary gain