The Lens of Language -- From Words to "Making Up People" -- The Nature of Metaphor -- The Militarized Arena of Medicine -- Sources of the Military Metaphor -- Consequences of the Verbal Wars -- Resilience of the Military Metaphor -- In Other Words -- Listening -- A Pharmacology …
Words and language have a powerful impact on interactions between physicians and patients. Words may heal or harm and language shapes how we see the world. For example, metaphors of wars and the military are ubiquitous and the militarized discourse has unforeseen effects on doct…
"The man arrived suffering from abdominal pain. Examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis--an inflamed gall bladder filled with stones. The attending surgeon scheduled the necessary simple operation for that afternoon. However, as soon as he heard the word surge…
"The man arrived suffering from abdominal pain. Examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis--an inflamed gall bladder filled with stones. The attending surgeon scheduled the necessary simple operation for that afternoon. However, as soon as he heard the word surge…