Naming the illness: the power of words

A key part of the doctor-patient encounter is the giving of a name to the patient's illness by the physician. Personal, professional, societal, and bureaucratic factors influence physicians in their choice of a name and the manner in which they present these words to the patient. The effect of the illness name on the individual patient may be determined not only by individual experience and knowledge, but also by social, cultural, and economic factors. Citing examples from medical practice from its origins in ancient Greece to the present day, this paper draws attention to the crucial significance of medical language in doctor-patient communication. A heightened awareness by physicians of communication style is suggested, both in encounters with patients and in the training of medical students and residents.