Following up on my earlier comment the following papers on euphemisms looked at least somewhat useful. I've sorted them in decreasing order of relevance ( not overall quality).

Swearing, euphemisms, and linguistic relativity

Doctors' use of euphemisms and their impact on patients' beliefs about health: An experimental study of heart failure.

Avoiding the term ‘obesity’: An experimental study of the impact of doctors’ language on patients’ beliefs.

'People first--always': Euphemism and rhetoric as troublesome influences on organizational sense-making--a downsizing case study.

Contamination and Camouflage in Euphemisms.

The connotations of English colour terms: Colour-based X-phemisms.