Godden J O
Can Med Assoc J. 1967 Apr 1;96(13):958-64.
Much can be done to improve the quality of oral and written communication among physicians, particularly among young physicians. Good communication can be taught. Clear writing is only the reflection of clear thinking. The strong determination to make oneself unmistakable will carry the writer a long way toward his goal; indeed, the determination to be unmistakable is far more important to a writer than rules of grammar or composition. Hitherto neglected, remedial instruction in medical writing is a valuable adjunct to medical education, specifically because the conscious and unremitting attempt to make oneself clear has great catalytic influences. This effort releases hidden energies in the medical writer as is suggested by the cryptic but illuminating remark made by one of E. M. Forster's characters, an old lady who said: "How do I know what I think until I hear what I say."
在提高医生之间口头和书面交流质量方面有很多工作可做，尤其是年轻医生之间。良好的沟通是可以传授的。清晰的写作只是清晰思维的体现。让自己表达无误的强烈决心会让作者在实现目标的道路上走得很远；事实上，对于作者来说，表达无误的决心远比语法或写作规则重要得多。医学写作方面的补救性指导一直被忽视，它是医学教育的一项宝贵辅助，特别是因为有意识且不懈地努力使自己表达清晰具有巨大的催化作用。正如E.M.福斯特笔下一个人物——一位老妇人所说的那句隐晦却富有启发性的话所暗示的那样，这种努力能释放医学写作者隐藏的能量：“直到我听到自己说的话，我怎么知道自己在想什么呢。”
