Learning New Medical Terminology

Communication has been a challenge for us so far on this mission. Despite the best efforts of our translators, things are still misunderstood more than we would hope for given that we are dealing with medical issues. But we’re still trying.

I’m particularly saddened by this fact given that I had hoped to have more engagement with patients. But as the translators are everywhere and nowhere when we need/don’t need them, I don’t feel right taxing them with a personal request to help me have conversations. To counter that though, we’ve entertained ourselves with some new medical terminology that we’ve practiced and refined in the confines of our break room.

The first is “absconder.” This one first came up when we were looking for a patient to bring up to surgery. We were notified that the patient was an absconder. After much back and forth conversation, we finally understood that the person had simply disappeared from the hospital. As it turned out we had one more absconder that day. What I understood is that patients sometimes become afraid and leave the premises. While I’m not that is what happened, nonetheless they absconded.

The second word is “giddy.” We typically associate this with a happy emotion. Here in India—at least at this location—it’s more likely to produce an upchuck reflex. One patient was noted as “giddy” and upon further examination and lots of discussion, it was uncovered that this medical term means noxious and dizzy. Hmmm.

The final word for the day is “movements.” One of our team was informed that a patient had a movement. Immediately one would check a person’s underpants for a bowel movement with this kind of a revelation. When that was confirmed not true and discussed further, the anesthesiologist was becoming concerned that the patient might be having a seizure or something. More discussion. In truth, that patient had taken in some electrolyte ( a good thing). The movement was simply taking a drink. Progress.

You know folks it’s about finding the moments of levity when you’re out here. And we’ve got lots of material.