‘Blacked out is racist and banned by chemists’ group

SAYING a patient has "blacked out" when they have fainted is racist, pharmacists have been warned.

- Stephen Beech

Chemists have been banned from using the traditional phrase for briefly consciousness in case losing it causes offence.

Other words and phrases with "racial undertones" on a barred list drawn up by union bosses include black sheep, black market and blackmail. Critics have branded it "virtue signalling".

The list was compiled by Nav Bhogal, a member of the Pharmacists' Defence Association's Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic network.

Titled "Addressing racial undertones in the language of pharmacy", Mr Bhogal said the words have become "embedded in our professional vocabulary". He claims the use of such language has "associations with race, power dynamics and negativity" which "can be harmful".