Diagnosis is a word that has its etymological origin in Greek and even more so in the union of three words of that language. Specifically, it is a term that is formed by the prefix diag- which means “through”; the word gnosis which is a synonym of “knowledge”, and finally the suffix -tico which is defined as “related to”. See Abbreviation Finder for acronyms related to Diagnosis.
A diagnosis is that which, in the field of medicine, is linked to the diagnosis. This term, in turn, refers to diagnosing: collecting data to analyze and interpret them, which allows evaluating a certain condition. For example: «The doctor said that tomorrow he will give me the diagnosis», «I regret to inform you that the diagnosis is not encouraging», «Hundreds of people wait at the door of the clinic to read the diagnosis».
In medicine, a diagnosis consists of the collection and analysis of data for the evaluation of a condition.
Diagnosis in medicine
In medicine, therefore, a diagnosis seeks to reveal the manifestation of a disease by observing and analyzing its symptoms.
In this sense, we can establish that there are various types of diagnoses such as pregnancy, various types of cancer, early or genetic, which is the one performed based on a DNA study.
Early diagnosis is very important to increase the chances of curing certain diseases.
Clinical examination
It can be differentiated, however, in the diagnosis that is carried out in clinical medicine (which contemplates observing the signs of a disorder to recognize a disease) and the diagnosis in nursing (the data of a person is studied to recognize what problems are part of a certain planning of care).
To develop a clinical diagnosis, the doctor proceeds to physically examine the patient. He will also analyze his medical history (his health history) and may order complementary studies that allow him to gather more information about the state of his organism.
Diagnosis as research or analysis
Beyond what corresponds specifically to medicine, the notion of diagnosis can be used in colloquial language as a kind of synonym for analysis or investigation.
“My diagnosis is that Andrea is tired of your vagueness: she needs a greater commitment from you” and “What is my diagnosis? That the team needs at least three reinforcements to get out of the bottom of the standings» are phrases that show this use.
The term in TV and film
It should be noted that an American television series entitled “Murder Diagnosis” has been broadcast all over the world, which reached the small screen in 1994 and has been on it until 2001. It revolves around the figure of Dr. Mark Sloan (Dick van Dyke) and his son, Detective Steve (Barry van Dyke), who together are responsible for solving certain cases of murder and homicide.
In audiovisual matters, it should also be noted that there is a film entitled «Diagnosis of a psychopath». In 1993, this production was released, starring Jane Wheeler and Sean McCann, which revolves around the figure of a gynecologist who is traumatized by the death of his mother during the birth of his brother to whom assassin. A fact that has now led him to make the decision to prevent children from being born.