I’ve always considered myself fortunate that languages come naturally to me. I studied French and German at school, and although I’m by no means fluent, the knowledge I gained over 20 years ago (eek!) works solidly with some practice. That, in turn, has allowed me to pick up some Spanish and Italian in the last year, having committed to learning via a phone app. But there are a couple of other less-recognised language that I speak almost fluently, one of which being Medic. Learning is easier than you might think, and a critical element of patient advocacy.
What is the language of Medic?
A couple of years ago, I realised that I haven’t just mastered the science of managing my way through the medical system, but also the art of the language that is Medic. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals speak a language of their own, complete with both a vocabulary and syntax which is unfamiliar to many people. And a large percentage of the population is happy to leave them to it. As long as they understand each other, it’s all ok right? Well… yes and no.
In my opinion, it’s well worth knowing about the body which we all call home. It helps us to understand what we’re doing and feeling. It means that we can be more effective and comfortable day to day. And it also allows us to communicate better with those who are there to help us. The real cherry on the cake is that it means that – like it or not – we’re often taken more seriously by professionals.
Case in point: my hospital admission for surgery
On the morning of my abdominal surgery in October 2018, I arrived at the hospital with my Mum for support, and started getting checked in. As usual, there was paperwork, and an outfit change, plus many questions from a huge team of staff. I was feeling incredibly emotional, and at some point, began to cry as I was overwhelmed and frightened.
I was still crying when a member of the medical team began the process of me consenting to surgery. Here, that means that you as the patient have to give an explanation to demonstrate that you understand what will happen during your procedure. I did so, through some tears, and the member of staff looked at me, bewildered. “Are you a medic?!” they asked. Because, despite the state I was in, I’d rattled off quite a technical description of what I knew was happening. One which was good enough to make them think that I might actually know what I was doing.
How to learn to speak Medic
I’ve got a simple formula for this. All languages have a structure, and medical terminology can seem confusing and intimidating at first. I think that, historically, this has served the medical profession, and supported their sense of authority. Ever been told that doctors know best? This was often achieved by disempowering patients. Happily, in the modern day Western world at least, this has very much changed and, whilst certain decisions about care should always be taken by genuine experts, patients can be experts too.
My main tip is to learn the vocabulary first, as we do with foreign languages. You can do this easily by listening to terms that your healthcare team uses, and noticing words which are either unfamiliar or different to ones you’d use. For example, medics will default to terms like “abdomen” rather than something like “tummy”, and only use “stomach” when they actually mean the internal organ, whereas a lot of members of the public might say “stomach” and mean their general abdominal or gut area.
Using correct anatomical language is also important in that it allows us to be specific: a common example is that many people use euphemisms for genitals in particular, often due to shame, embarrassment, or lack of technical knowledge. Not knowing the truth is ok, remaining in that place of ignorance is not; take the time and temporary embarrassment to learn the accurate wording, and start using it. Think of it this way: if you are able to tell your GP that you are experiencing vulvar pain, for instance, they will instantly understand exactly where you’re referring to without need for further questioning, be better able to help you, and sadly take you more seriously as they know that you have a working knowledge. It matters.
More tips for learning scientific language
When a word is used and you’d like to keep hold of it, make sure that you make a note of it either via paper or on your phone. It’s worth reading any letters you’re copied in on between doctors, as there will be more new vocabulary here too – look up words that you don’t know the meaning of, or check with your team and request a definition from them.
As with foreign languages, it’s then a case of making use of the terms you now know. When you learn more, you’ll realise that there are general ways that medics us for describing things such as pain – they tend to use words such as “burning” or “radiating” to identify types. It’s a case of listening and reading actively, rather than passively, to notice any term which jumps out at you – it’ll usually be because you don’t know the meaning of it, or it seems like a word or phrase you wouldn’t use, that’s when you know that Medic has kicked in.
Use your words wisely
I’m not advocating for you rattling off an anatomical textbook for the sake of it – these techniques are best used in context! But I can guarantee that, during an appointment, you’ll be able to use at least something, and that you’ll be able to watch some ears prick up as you do so. Remember that learning is an ongoing process too. I was a veteran of two surgeries and well into recovery from the second when I learned the words “radiolucent” and “radioluminous” (meaning an item doesn’t or does show up on an X-ray respectively). As the industry continues to change and your body moves through life, new things will appear in your vocabulary, and that’s a good thing.
Hopefully this helps you to develop a new skill and feel confident in a medical environment. And if you’d like more tutoring, I’m happy to help!