Medical professionals tend to speak with precise technical medical terminology, although the majority of their patients have no idea as to what they are actually speaking of. Some may view this as arrogant, and wonder who exactly their doctor is trying to impress. The reality is, in fact, that nearly every profession has their own language in one form or another. To listen in on a conversation in computer technology, professional athletics, or electrical engineering would leave anyone unfamiliar with the field lost and confused.
Medical professionals have their own language composed of many Greek and Latin words. They are required to memorize and know terms to describe endless lists of symptoms and diseases. The precision with which a diagnosis is made is dependent upon the medical practitioner’s knowledge of the various ailments, disorders, and other abnormalities that affect their patient’s body and mind. (A Fear of Medical Words, Retrieved from http://www. medicinenet. com/script/main/art. asp?
articlekey=17299) For example, Gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining, is a much more specific term than a stomach ache, and causes and treatment for two such conditions are drastically diverse. (Symptoms and Diseases, Retrieved from http://www. cureresearch. com/sym/stomach_ache. htm) A doctor’s knowledge will ultimately lead to the patient receiving the most appropriate care for their condition. Obvious drawbacks to the situation involve a disconnect between the relationship of doctor and patient.
The doctor may be viewed as arrogant and pretentious, forcing a dislike of the individual from the patient’s point of view. The patient may not understand what the doctor is speaking of, and be unclear as to the best path of treatment and recovery, leading to tragic and easily avoidable results.
References
Hecht, Frederick, M. D. , F. A. A. P. (2001) A Fear of Medical Words. Retrieved on January 8, 2009, from http://www. medicinenet. com/script/main/art. asp? articlekey=17299 Cure Research. (October 8, 2003). Symptoms and Diseases. Retrieved January 8, 2009, from http://www. cureresearch. com/sym/stomach_ache. htm