Some, alas not all, doctors strive for plain language. The headline of this medical report contains plain language: “A Real Airhead,” Declan McDonnell and Gillian Park, BMJ Case Reports, epub November 25, 2014. The authors, at Southampton General Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital, London, UK, report: “A 21-year-old man was taken to the emergency department after […]
Tag: medical
Acute effects of a deep-fried Mars bar on brain vasculature
Scotland’s purported tolerance for fried candy bars inspired this new medical study: “A randomised crossover trial of the acute effects of a deep-fried Mars bar or porridge on the cerebral vasculature,” William G. Dunn, and Matthew R. Walters, Scottish Medical Journal, epub 2014. The authors, at the BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre and the University of […]
Turgid and Obscure Language, from Roger Bolas
Turgid and obscure language impinges on the realm of medical ethics, apparently: “Turgid and Obscure Language,” Roger Bolas, Journal of Medical Ethics, vol. 2, 1976, p 151. The author writes: SIR, My reactions on reading ‘obverted contrapositive’ and ‘presuppositionless characterization’ (page 103, volume 2, number 2), were to sigh deeply and to reach for the […]
Comparative ‘iffiness’ of medical research articles
If one could know for sure how iffy things are for English-speaking doctors compared to how iffy things are for French-speaking doctors, one might reach the same conclusions as are reached in this study: “The ‘iffiness’ of medical research articles —A comparison of English if and French si,” Shirley Carter-Thomas [pictured here], in Language and […]