The
Doctor of Babel
As a family doctor, I have found that
very few words are necessary to take a basic medical history. Human nature is
the same everywhere, whether the speaker be Cree from Northern Canada, Ngobe
from the jungle of Panama, or Italian from Rome. Even if a health care worker
doesn't travel to these exotic places, immigrants in every country appreciate
the use of their native language when discussing their health.
As a practical aid for myself and for
others, I've condensed the general medical questionnaire to its absolute
smallest size.
Here are links to a number of
different languages, each with a short list of questions a health care worker
might ask a patient, as well as some answers that the patient might give. On
each page, the first column is in English, the second is in the chosen
language, and the third and fourth have buttons which will play a recording.
The list is printable, and can be attatched to a 5 x 7 index card for easy
reference.
With smiles, hand signs and much good
will, it is possible to communicate with a patient of nearly any culture and
language, and to ask about their health.
