That's because it is the answer to the question, "What does the patient have?"
Merriam-Webster's online dictionary ranks the word in popularity as,
"Top 20% of words."
1 a: the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptomsb: the decision reached by diagnosis * the doctor's diagnosis
2. biology: a concise technical description of a taxon
3 a: investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem *
diagnosis of engine trouble
b: a statement or conclusion from such an analysis"
So it is okay that every time you see a doctor, you ask,
"What is my diagnosis?"
It could be, "The flu." or "An inflamed appendix." ~ those are two different diagnoses.
The good doctor will tell you the diagnosis, or will tell you that she does not know. You may need to go get your blood drawn, or you may require an x-ray. However, the standard is that your doctor will usually write down a diagnosis in your medical record and do it during your visit, or shortly thereafter.
It may be a "presumptive" diagnosis that isn't yet written in stone, but I think you'll feel better if you ask,
"Could you please tell me my diagnosis?"
I hope this helps you to understand what is going on with your own body, And if everybody somehow started asking this question, doctors would talk to you in 'their' language. I think that you need to learn how doctors think, and part of that means to learn how to use and understand medical words.
Stay tuned for our next article, which is a continuation of this one. And give someone a good, long hug today! They say that hugging is as good for your body as eating vegetables or working out! So stop by and read my article here! ((Hugs!))
P.S. And if the doctor says, "You have an infected ear." Well, that is your diagnosis. So keep your ears out for:
"I think you have ...."
"It looks like you have ..."
"You have ...."
... because you just got your diagnosis without asking!
