Intended for healthcare professionals

Fillers

Patient or client?

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7383.253 (Published 01 February 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:253
  1. T P S Bloch, general practitioner
  1. Barn Close Surgery, Broadway, Worcestershire

    It is sometimes claimed that our patients would be more empowered if we referred to them as clients. This assertion does not seem to be altogether logical if one considers the Latin roots of both these words.

    Whereas patiens simply denotes someone who is suffering, cliens is derived from the alteration of an earlier form, cluens, from cluere (to listen, follow, or obey). Hence, a client was always listening out for another's orders, unable to take independent action. Client denotes a person of lowly status at another's beck and call and dependent on him.

    In ancient Rome clients were plebeians who were bound in a subservient relationship with their patrician patron. Clients acknowledged their dependence on the patron and received his protection in return. Freed slaves automatically became the clients of their former owners. The patron might represent and support them in court (from which is derived the modern use, dating to the 17th century, of calling the customers of lawyers clients); in return, the clients provided services and even money to the patron. Clients were expected to show deference to their patron, especially by calling on him every morning (salutatio). Clients became mockingly known as salutatores. In later periods, client came to denote a beggar and hanger-on.

    Is it better to be a sufferer or a toady?