The article Doctors’ Use of Medical Terminology Can Leave Patients Poorly Informed (2014) states that doctors have utilized jargon to keep patients in the dark recently. Yet, there is no justification for poor communication since patients are more concerned about their treatment than ever before. Hence, the article emphasizes that medical professionals and patients should encourage easy-to-understand formulation during visits to healthcare facilities. My personal experience of a patient confirms the point made in the article. For example, there was an occasion when a nurse used some vague medical terminology when describing my injury and, at the end of her speech, declared that it was “positive.” I associated that word with beneficial outcomes, and this statement made me believe that my condition implies nothing serious. Yet, the nurse meant that my test for trauma was positive, which was entirely the opposite of what I concluded.
The recommendations in the article seem relevant for any patient who cares about their health. For instance, if I had asked the nurse about my understanding of the diagnosis in the mentioned situation, I would have escaped the miscommunication. Moreover, according to the article, one should never nod in agreement with the doctor’s speech if their comprehension of the condition has not yet been discussed. (Doctors’ Use, 2014). Therefore, I should have never produced signs indicating that the nurse’s message had been clear. Moreover, I can add another helpful suggestion for patients visiting the health care providers. Namely, they should utter whether their diagnosis is significant and what consequences for their well-being. This question would prepare one for further treatment and exclude all remaining misunderstandings.
Reference
Doctors’ use of medical terminology can leave patients poorly informed. (2014). The Washington Post.