Why do health care and medical workers use medical terminology instead of standard english words.

Yeah but, you have to consider who you are talking to. I was drawing blood on a patient while the dr. was telling them a course of action for what he thought the problem was. After he left the lady looked at me and said she was just your basic woman and didn't understand that talk and wanted me to explain it to her. Now i could have but I didn't want it to come back as "That lab guy said.." So I went out and asked the Dr. when he had time if he could go back in and explain it in more laymans terms if at all possiable, that the patient didn't understand his explination. Don't know if it helped I just didn't want in the middle and wanted them to get better answers.

Because thats what we are taught to use!

Probably the same reason the guy working on your computer tells you that you need a RAM upgrade or your disk is fragmented. If he said 'you need more whatchamacallit and your disk is all wonky' would you feel comfortable telling him to go ahead and work on your system?

I agree with the precise answering of medical questions in using the terminology; however, when you are speaking with a 'lay person', I find by talking on their level is a lot more understood by the patient. Simple demonstrations are easiest for them, I have found. Sometimes we forget, and rightfully so, that WE may know of what the Doctor or some other Medical Professional is telling them, but when they leave the office/hospital etc., they are sometimes stressed as they do not understand and need further more simple language. If we are to educate them, in preventive care, instructions, risks and benefits ~~ then we must consider their ability or their caretaker's in FULLY understanding the ifs, ands, buts, whys so they can be positive in their actions of being totally complient. I hope this is helpful. distantwings