The thing about "elective" surgeries is that elective only means you aren't dying in that exact moment. For ex, the spine surgery I need is still considered "elective" until I lose function of my bowels. W/o surgery my issues increase every day, preventable issues.

My hip surgery was technically "elective" but I was losing the ability to walk and climb stairs - fairly essential activities when I don't live in an accessible place & don't have help with groceries.

"Elective" is a terrible term when used to describe surgeries.

My foot surgeries were technically "elective" because I hadn't created wounds so bad in my diabetic feet with neuropathy as to require amputation. But if I waited, that could have been the outcome.

Again, elective surgery isn't really elective when it's saving you from the worst

There are a whole bunch of surgeries deemed elective that are not really elective. They're required to ensure someone can function and as preventative medicine. Someone might not be dying in that moment but the price for not undergoing surgery & waiting is rather steep.

I am heartbroken knowing I and many others can't access the care we need, including "elective" surgeries because of systemic failures around this pandemic. And I'm frustrated knowing many won't understand that elective doesn't really mean elective.

If I'm to put it in economic terms, the lack of "elective" surgeries costs us all. These surgeries are a large source of revenue for hospitals, keep nurses & staff employed, etc. And, as mentioned above, they're also preventative medicine - reducing long term costs to the system.

Going to add that I am well aware of the nomenclature issues. "Elective" connotes the surgery is planned. I know. But the point is the term is unhelpful on multiple levels - from considering what is urgent to understanding the implications of inaction.

Might also mention that many of us who need "elective" surgeries are also afraid of entering hospitals to receive the care we need. Knowing infection risks are high in hospital & esp for COVID, it makes us think long and hard about whether we'll end up worse off

If we delay care, we know the ramifications (which could mean death). If we pursue care, we know the ramifications could be improvement or contracting COVID (which could mean death). And the more govt plays with relaxing stay at home, the more difficult that calculation becomes.

Follow up, I would imagine that the way in which "elective" is applied is likely highly skewed. Pain and serious health conditions suffered by PoC are undervalued and ignored/brushed off in medicine. Thus, I could see PoC being told their surgeries are "elective" more frequently.