Haiguselt

Haiguselt is a hypothetical term used in medical sociology and linguistic studies to describe a pattern of causal attribution in illness narratives in which the illness itself is seen as the direct source of subsequent health problems, rather than external factors such as treatment, environment, or behavior. The concept focuses on disease-centric causation in patient and clinician discourse.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from the Estonian word haigus meaning illness, with the suffix -elt indicating origin. In this framework, statements that attribute fatigue, pain, or functional decline to haiguselt reflect a belief that the illness alone drives these outcomes.

Applications: Researchers use haiguselt to classify patient stories, treatment decisions, and policy discussions where illness is treated as the primary causative agent. It helps distinguish disease-intrinsic effects from modifiable external influences and can illuminate how illness experiences shape health behavior and care pathways.

Reception and critique: Haiguselt remains a niche construct with limited uptake. Critics argue that it can oversimplify complex interactions between disease, treatment, and context, while supporters view it as a useful descriptor for analyzing narratives that privilege the illness as a source of harm.