"Linguistitis" of medical terminology (II) . Language-policy and questions from a perspective of younger physicians
Høy, A.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 158(49): 7079-7083
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 8999616 Document Number: 464160
In a previous article in the Journal of the Danish Medical Association, "Medical Terminology Linguistitis (I)", the author pointed out the importance of involving the users in connection with the definition of a language policy concerning Danish medical terminology and future medical doctors' need for language proficiency. A recent inquiry, involving 11 medical doctors (Ph.D. students), suggests that there is in fact a need for a language policy. Also, the respondents expressed strong antipathy against a full nationalization of the terms which can in some cases be observed in the Danish version of ICD-10. On the basis of this survey, the following questions are discussed in this article: Future medical doctors' need for knowledge of Latin and English, medical doctors' opinions concerning a terminology based on Latin, or Danish, and some important aspects concerning the definition of a language policy in the medical area.