53. Discussing treatment PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

53. Discussing treatment

A	Offering options When discussing options with a patient, doctors may say: √ There are a couple of options we can use. The first option is try tablets like Prozac that lift you up a bit. The other option is counselling. √ It can be caused by diet or stress. There are some quite simple tests we can do. If you’re still concerned, we can refer you to a hospital.
B	Advising a course of action When advising a course of action, doctors may say: √ Some time off work might help. If you felt that would be helpful, you could take a week off and see how you felt after that. √ Carry on drinking lots of fluids. √ If you still have some pain, you can keep taking paracetamol. √ Other things might help, like raising the head of your bed. That’s one of the simple things we could start you off with. You said you haven’t tried indigestion remedies. That’s something you could try.
C	Advising patients to avoid something When advising patients to avoid something, doctors may say: √ There are a few things about your lifestyle we could address. Perhaps cut down on the amount you’re drinking. Giving up smoking would help. √ Cut out fatty foods. √ You should try to avoid tight clothing, sitting in deep armchairs and bending, especially after meals.
D	Warnings When a doctor wants to warn a patient that the consequence of ignoring the advice could be serious, he or she may say: √ If you aren’t feeling better in 7 to 14 days, you really must come back and see me again. √ If you feel that things aren’t settling. Aren’t getting back to normal, it’s important that you see me again. √ If you keep damaging it, you’re going to end up with a long-term problem. √ It’s very important you don’t stop taking the tablets suddenly of your symptoms will return.

EXERCISES

53.1	Complete the advice. Look at A, B, C and D above to help you. 1 If you __________ __________ smoking, you increase the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. 2 Your health would improve if you __________ __________ alcohol completely. 3 You could __________ __________ with a serious drug problem. 4 I’m going to __________ you __________ with some tablets. If they don’t help, we’ll need to think about surgery. 5 __________ __________ on the amount of salt you take with your food. 6 I expect things will __________ in a few days and you’ll be able to get up. 7 Try to __________ situations where you feel stressed.
53.2	Match the two pairs of the sentences. Look at A, B, C, and D above to help you. 1 If you still have pain, 2 If you find it difficult to give up smoking, 3 Your symptoms will return, 4 If you can’t get to sleep, 5 Come back and see me again, 6 If you’re still concerned,
53.4	Advise a patient with high blood pressure about physical activity, look at the information in the table, and at C above to help you.

Answer key