The Language of Medical Case Histories

Medical Writings1 December 1997The Language of Medical Case HistoriesWilliam J. Donnelly, MDWilliam J. Donnelly, MDEdward Hines, Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital; Hines, IL 60141Note: Earlier versions of this paper were presented as "Constructing Ethical Medical Case Histories" as part of the workshop "Narrative Ethics Under Construction" for the Annual Meeting of the Society for Health and Human Values, 15 October 1995, San Diego, California, and at the Spring Meeting of the Society for Health and Human Values, 13 April 1996, Knoxville, Tennessee.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-127-11-199712010-00035 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Questionable language pervades case histories, the professional accounts of illness and medical care constructed by students and practitioners of medicine every day in teaching hospitals. In the archetypal configuration taught to medical students, the case history begins with the patient's chief complaint and concludes with an interim or final summary of diagnoses, course, and care. I use the term case history generically to refer to both the medical record and its numerous offspring, such as oral case presentations and published case reports. However, I give greatest attention to the written record. As the official, permanent account of professional medical care, ...References1. Good BJ. Medicine, Rationality, and Experience: An Anthropological Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Pr; 1994:65-87. Google Scholar2. Weed LL. Medical Records, Medical Education, and Patient Care: The Problem-Oriented Medical Record as a Basic Tool. Cleveland, OH: Pr of Case Western Univ; 1969. Google Scholar3. Anspach RR. Notes on the sociology of medical discourse: the language of case presentation. J Health Soc Behav. 1988; 29:357-75. Google Scholar4. Smith RC, Hoppe RB. 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Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital; Hines, IL 60141Note: Earlier versions of this paper were presented as "Constructing Ethical Medical Case Histories" as part of the workshop "Narrative Ethics Under Construction" for the Annual Meeting of the Society for Health and Human Values, 15 October 1995, San Diego, California, and at the Spring Meeting of the Society for Health and Human Values, 13 April 1996, Knoxville, Tennessee.Corresponding Author: William J. Donnelly, MD, Medical Service (111), Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL 60141. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byTheme choice in oral case presentations: Differences between medical novices and expertsPsychosis or spiritual emergency? 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Voytovich, MDDesign and Implementation of a Foundations in Medicine CourseWhy graduate medical schools make sense 1 December 1997Volume 127, Issue 11Page: 1045-1048KeywordsDisabilitiesEmotionsFearIschemiaMotivationPatientsResearch laboratoriesSoapsSpleenSputum Issue Published: 1 December 1997 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...