Monday, April 28, 2008

Complicated medical lingo can confuse patients: researchers

Complicated medical lingo can confuse patients: researchers
Last Updated: Thursday, April 24, 2008 | 4:59 PM ET CBC News

"Using complicated medical jargon can be confusing, anxiety inducing and potentially dangerous for patients, a new study found.

The research, the focus of this week's editorial in the Lancet, finds that when doctors speak to their patients using the terminology they learned in medical school, patients can fail to identify what it is that's being said, be confused about their diagnosis or incorrectly interpret their condition.

According to health experts, the confusion can happen very easily."

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