Sí, doctora

Abstract

Experience with seeing Latino patients at a community health center has taught a family physician that the patient's response, "Sí, doctora [Yes, doctor]" can have multiple meanings. Patients might say "yes" during consultations to avoid conflict or to defer to the more powerful doctor. The clinician's understanding had to move to deeper levels when a visiting Ecuadorian friend learning English used "yes" multiple times in conversation, but not as an indicator of agreement or even comprehension. The family doctor realized that she could not assume what the patient implies by this simple expression. The apparent agreement of "yes" requires more. When a patient says, "Sí, doctora," the doctor must probe with more questions and listen hard to the answers.