Tuesday, July 17, 2007

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN II

I received an sms from my former colleague in Kuching, R, telling about her experience with an elderly patient in the clinic. It reminded me of my own experience with an orang asli patient in Seremban General Hospital many years ago (Tales out of medical school & From memory bank). This is more or less the conversation between R & her patient.


Dr. R: Pak cik makan ubat apa?

Patient: Tak ada makan ubat, doktor

Dr. R: Bila sakit, pak cik tak makan ubat?

Patient: Tak, doktor

Dr. R: Jadi pak cik tahan je lah bila sakit?

Patient: Auk, doktor (Yes, doctor in Sarawakian slang)

Dr. R: Kenapa tak makan ubat?

Patient: Tak ada ubat, doktor

Dr. R: Kalau pak cik tak makan ubat, habis pak cik makan apa?

Patient: (must have thought in his mind why is the doctor asking him a funny question, before coming up with the best logical answer) Makan nasi lah

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