Patient,Client or Consumer?

DEAR SIR,

I wish to draw to the attention of the authors of a recent paper in Australasian Psychiatry,[1] and AP readers, the origins of the term ‘patient’. It derives from the Latin ‘pati’ meaning ‘to suffer’, the root of ‘patiens/patientis’, that is ‘one who suffers/suffering one’, hence our English word ‘patient’. Now I ask you, what better term to address the suffering individuals we encounter than this?

I suggest that before we discard ancient, wise and appropriate appellations for the sake of trendy Americanisms, a deeper look into the language of our profession is advisable. I wonder whether there is a case for introducing etymology in undergraduate courses in the health sciences.