《中英對照讀新聞》Patients mimic illnesses of idols 病人會模仿偶像罹患的疾病

◎魏國金

Patients are mimicking the illnesses suffered by their favourite soap and television stars, a British survey suggested.

病人會模仿他們最喜愛的肥皂劇與電視明星所患的疾病，一項在英國進行的調查指出。

More than nine out of ten doctors claimed to have seen patients reporting symptoms based on what they had seen on TV or read in newspapers, the research claimed.

超過九成的醫師指稱見過病患以他們在電視上看到或報紙上讀到的東西為基礎來講述病症，這項研究宣稱。

Norwich Union Healthcare, a major private insurer, found that 60 per cent of the 200 doctors questioned thought the growing number of medical issues covered by soaps, lifestyle programmes and newspapers and magazines were making their patients paranoid.

大型的民營保險業者「諾威治聯合健康管理」公司發現，兩百位醫生中有六成認為，越來越多的肥皂劇、生活資訊節目、報紙與雜誌探討醫學議題，使他們的病患變得偏執。

They said that this exposure was encouraging patients to undertake self-diagnosis by seeking advice from friends and family before speaking to their doctors. The poll found that nearly nine in ten doctors claimed their patients arrived for an appointment having already decided on their diagnosis.

他們說，這些資訊會鼓勵病患在開口與醫生談論前，先求教朋友與家人，進行自我診斷。調查數據發現，十名醫生中有近九位聲稱他們的病患前來問診時，對於診斷已有定見。

The author of the survey, Doug Wright said: “The media has a really beneficial role in raising awareness about significant healthcare issues and this should not be underestimated.”“However, we shouldn't let these issues scare us. If you have real concerns your first stop must always be your doctor.”

這份調查的作者道格•萊特說：「在提升對重大健康議題的警覺上，媒體真的扮演有利的角色，這一點不應被低估。」「然而，我們不應讓這些議題嚇倒我們，如果你真的擔心，你首先求助的務必是醫生。」

Dictionary-新聞辭典

mimic: 模仿、模擬，在本文為動詞，但也可為形容詞，比如，mimic tears（假哭）、 mimic coloring（保護色）。

paranoid: 作為形容詞，意思為妄想的、過分猜疑的；名詞則為偏執狂。

undertake: 承擔、著手進行。We have undertaken our wedding party. （我們已開始籌備婚禮。）