Deadlifting caused major damage to my son's back. My son, who is a physical therapist, under the guidance of a fellow physical therapist and using proper technique, severely reinjured his back despite using proper technique while performing a set of deadlifts. Two years later, he is still disabled and will probably require back surgery. Deadlifting for someone with back issues just isn't worth the risk, in my opinion, unless the weight is very minimal.
Deadlifting is a necessary part of life. We all have to bend over to pick up objects. When recovering from an existing back injury, you may have to significantly modify the implement and range of motion, and of course keeping the load relatively light for a time is a good idea, but you should still aim to build toward being able to properly hinge and pick up weights.
