A multicolour chart for doctors

doi:10.1136/bmj.39044.714780.68

BMJ 2006;333:1319 (23 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39044.714780.68

Filler

A multicolour chart for doctors

Hanna Esser, school student, Gerhard Esser, general practitioner gesser@doctors.org.uk

¹ Chestfield Medical Centre, Chestfield CT5 3QU

Hanna Esser: When I was 5 years old I drew thesetwo pictures for my dad, who is a general practitioner. Thatwas six years ago. Ever since then, he's been coming home tellingme what he uses them for. When somebody comes with a cough heasks them which colour the phlegm looks like and then he cantell them whether they need an antibiotic. When patients saythat they have black poo my Dad asks them if it really is likethe black square, and if it isn't, it's okay. When they saythat they've got really dark urine he asks them to point tothe colour and usually that's ok, too.

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Gerhard Esser: For a long time my daughter hasnagged me that she would like to present her pictures in theBMJ. I indeed use the chart often in discussions about suspectedmelaena and symptoms of jaundice. Sometimes I wish that therewere more "shades of sputum," but acknowledging some green colourreassures most patients that their message has come across.I would like to suggest a similar chart throughout the NHS.This would help doctors to communicate about colourful conditionsnot only with patients, but also with professionals on the telephone.

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Rapid Responses:

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The child is a prodigy.: Ian Pennell
bmj.com, 22 Dec 2006 [Full text]
International Color Code: Dorothea I. Diallo
bmj.com, 27 Dec 2006 [Full text]