Language Skills Worksheet #11

Many doctors do not listen to what they say. The results make them vulnerable to charges of practicing "nonsense medicine."

Each one of these statements was dictated by a licensed physician. Diagnose what is wrong with the dictating doctor's statement and write your own version of what the physician failed to communicate.

"The penis was wrapped in vaseline gauze and sent to the nursery for recovery."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient's wife died of cancer of the prostate."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"This 24-year-old woman who has had seven children was apparently in the operating room and went to sleep when she was discovered to be pregnant at another hospital."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"She was found by a boarder who lives in her home unconscious in the bathroom."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Sutures were placed in the fifth quadrant."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Evaluation was consistent with early VP shunting mechanism plus ophthalmological evaluation secondary to the lack of the occipital mantle formation and general genetic and family counseling for the parents."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"This eight-year-old came to the GU clinic with his mother who has an absent right testicle since birth."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient was somewhat diuretic."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient is here for followup of burns, right calf...now has developed some escargot and swelling..."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient states that he had a similar episode earlier on the morning prior to admission, upon walking with shoes off, spontaneously with rest."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Head was shaken up when blown off a tank in the South Pacific. He denies any residuals."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"A cath was obtained showing only insignificant lumpy, bumpy disease throughout his left and right coronary systems."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient was instructed on how to take a pulse, as well as a female companion."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"He is not allergic to any ants or planimals."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient will take Anusol-HC suppository p.o. h.s. for a week."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient was discharged with his sutures eating a soft diet."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Apparently he was found lying on the street and was brought here for soberization."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient was then given a split-thickness shit graft."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"She had one stitch, a female weighing 7 lb. 9 oz."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The patient was given a prescription for a stool sample."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Diagnosis: Schizophrenic exasperation."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"Patient refused autopsy."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"In summary, she is a 53 year old who was previously well until approximately four years ago, when she had an episode of burning of her vulva and vagina after an antibiotic treatment for Strep throat. Her husband had a similar problem at that time."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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"The possibility of other infection is also a possibility."

Diagnosis:

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Corrected Text:

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