Posted on 05/01/2013 12:44:00 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Among the procedures Army surgeon Hawkeye Pierce performed on “M.A.S.H.” was an end-to-end anastomosis. Most of the viewers, actor Alan Alda concedes, had no idea he was talking about removing a damaged piece of intestine and reconnecting the healthy pieces.
Today, the award-winning film and television star is on a mission to teach physicians, physicists and scientists of all types to ditch the jargon and get their points across in clear, simple language. …
“There’s no reason for the jargon when you’re trying to communicate the essence of the science to the public, because you’re talking what amounts to gibberish to them,” Alda said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
A better understanding of science, Alda said, can benefit society in ways great and small. Physicians can more clearly explain treatments to patients. Consumers can decipher what chemicals may be in their food. And lawmakers can make better decisions on funding scientific research. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Ha ha — I read this one after I read the two great jokes below and found it almost as funny. Hey Alda give your speech to the script writers — not the doctors.
I’m a doc and I have to say that I agree with Alda on this.
Only thing is no one needs to “teach” anybody anything. Docs just need to have the time to be able to sit down, look folks in the eye and communicate in simple English appropriate to the patients understanding.
Everyone knows how to do this; obviously Alda’s docs have chosen to confuse him with medical jargon- maybe they thought he was really Hawkeye?
Every High Priesthood MUST have its own hidden language, known only to the cognoscenti, to reinforce its image of being far, far above the plain of mere mortals and thus deserving of deferential and lucrative treatment.
SOME technical language is necessary in nearly every skilled field. However, if you cannot (or will not) communicate with those outside your chosen specialty, you are either not fully educated or else arrogant.
This applies to medical doctors, computer programmers and plumbers alike.
Next he’ll be wanting lawyers to write contracts in plain English...
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”
[And scientists wanted Alan Alda to cut out many of those lame medical jokes on MASH, but they didn’t have any impact there, either]
But he’s the “Yankee Doodle Doctor.”
The biggest joke of all is that doctors routinely explain things in plain English if they explain at all. Alda had to shop this drivel around for years until he found a school Stony Brook that would bankroll his last ditch desperate effort at retaining his career. Funny the only example he could give was one that showed there is really no problem.
Right, just call it what it is, a pooppipeconnectomy.
My other favorite comeback is, is that good or bad and if bad how long do I have?
A Mrs. Kotter episode.
Alan Alda? Another comedy routine.....Alda The Teacher...Guy must be outta work.
That “jargon” is extremely descriptive and dumbing it down may not be the wisest way to deal with it.
The patients themselves have a little responsibility to learn about their issues and treatments.
I’m entitled to bite off Alan Alda’s left ear.
Maybe he can convince his “fans” in DC to distill the 2,000+ page Obamacare Law into something understandable...
That was an explanation I could understand, even while I was fading out. ;)
/johnny
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