Medical English: Phrases for Explaining a Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

Explaining a diagnosis and discussing a treatment plan is one of the most important stages in doctor–patient communication. For international healthcare professionals, this can be especially challenging — you need to speak clearly and professionally, while also showing empathy.
If you're learning medical English, make sure to include phrases for diagnosis explanation, treatment discussion, and talking about possible risks and outcomes. In this article, you'll find only real-life, clinically used phrases.

How to Explain a Diagnosis in English

💬 Common introduction phrases:
  • “Based on your test results, we have a diagnosis.”
  • “Your symptoms are consistent with…”
  • “It looks like you have [condition].”
  • “We’ve found signs of…”
💬 Sample diagnoses:
  • “You have a mild case of pneumonia.”
  • “It appears to be a viral infection.”
  • “This is a chronic condition, but it can be managed.”

How to Explain a Treatment Plan in English

💬 General treatment phrases:
  • “We’ll start with [treatment].”
  • “I’m prescribing you…”
  • “You’ll need to take this medication twice a day.”
  • “Let’s schedule a follow-up appointment in one week.”
💬 Treatment options:
  • “You’ll receive an injection.”
  • “We recommend surgery in this case.”
  • “Physical therapy can help reduce the pain.”

⚠️ How to Talk About Risks and Prognosis in English

  • “There are some risks involved, but they are minimal.”
  • “This treatment has a good success rate.”
  • “We expect you to make a full recovery.”
  • “There is a chance of recurrence, so we’ll monitor your condition.”
Want to practice these phrases in real clinical scenarios?
In the Doxa app, you'll find:
📚 doctor–patient dialogues in English
🗣 clinical case simulations
🧠 interactive exercises to learn medical terms
Download for Free