To find out what is wrong, the doctor will first have a conversation with you. Tell him or her which problems you have and leave nothing out. It doesn’t matter if it is your body or mind that is affected. The practitioners are legally obliged to keep secret anything they learn from you. This means that they are not allowed to give any information about you to the authorities, employers or even family members, unless you want them to, of course. This is sometimes the case with information about your child’s health. For example, your daughter’s Frauenarzt (gynaecologist) is not allowed to inform you of her examination results without her consent.

If you don’t understand the diagnosis, ask again!

After the preliminary consultation, you will be examined. This is followed by a diagnosis. The doctor will tell you what they have found out. Do not be afraid to ask again and again if you do not understand something. If in doubt, a person who speaks your language, for example an interpreter, must be brought in for the consultation.

You can find more information on the topic of health on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health under Migration and Health and in the brochure Health Guide for Asylum Seekers in Germany.