Patient-Doctor relationship. between sign supremacy and sympton exclusion

Abstract

This text approaches a central point of the medical act, namely, the construction of a diagnostic judgement starting from the basis of medical semiology: recognition of signs and symptoms. Nevertheless, in our work along with medical doctors, we have observed ever more frequently that there is an objectivation attempt that privileges signs, since supposedly they do not deceive; this latter characteristic is attributed to symptoms from the time of Hipocrates. To demonstrate this a brief historical journey is carried out for the construction of the medical sign, as well as a parallel between this and the linguistic sign, in order to arrive at what we denominate misunderstanding with the patient. We try to point out how the patient’s being, that could be listened in the symptom, is excluded in favor of observation of the sign.