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 your conversation, you will be examined, then you will be given a diagnosis. The doctor will tell you what he or she has found out. If you don’t understand something, do not be afraid to ask again. If in doubt, a person has to be brought in who speaks your language, for example an interpreter.

You can find more information on the topic of health in the brochure "Health Guide for Asylum Seekers in Germany“. You can download it and order it here.