@article {Marshallmedhum-2012-010307, author = {Robert J Marshall and Alan Bleakley}, title = {Lost in translation. Homer in English; the patient{\textquoteright}s story in medicine}, elocation-id = {medhum-2012-010307}, year = {2013}, doi = {10.1136/medhum-2012-010307}, publisher = {Institute of Medical Ethics}, abstract = {In a series of previous articles, we have considered how we might reconceptualise central themes in medicine and medical education through {\textquoteleft}thinking with Homer{\textquoteright}. This has involved using textual approaches, scenes and characters from the Iliad and Odyssey for rethinking what is a {\textquoteleft}communication skill{\textquoteright}, and what do we mean by {\textquoteleft}empathy{\textquoteright} in medical practice; in what sense is medical practice formulaic, like a Homeric {\textquoteleft}song{\textquoteright}; and what is lyrical about medical practice. Our approach is not to historicise medicine and medical education, but to use thinking with Homer as a medium and metaphor for questioning the habitual and the taken-for-granted in contemporary practice. In this article, we tackle the complex theme of {\textquoteleft}translation{\textquoteright}. We use the lens of translation studies to examine the process of turning the patient{\textquoteright}s story into medical language. We address the questions: what makes a {\textquoteleft}good{\textquoteright} translation? What are the consequences of mistranslation and poor translation? And, while things are inevitably lost in translation, does this matter?}, issn = {1468-215X}, URL = {https://mh.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/27/medhum-2012-010307}, eprint = {https://mh.bmj.com/content/early/2013/02/27/medhum-2012-010307.full.pdf}, journal = {Medical Humanities} }