[A commented reading of a selected letter: "I want to have access to the medical file of my father ", or a play of crossed discourses].

In recent years, new patients' rights have been evolved, allowing them access to records of the state of their health. Many letters addressed by the public to physicians and to administrators are kept in hospitals' medical files. This chapter presents examples of such letters which are discussed from a linguistic point of view. It remains difficult to ascertain exactly what the patients expected of their letters and what exactly the medical and administrative staff answered. A typical letter contains two distinct themes: logistic or technical questions, and existential or affective issues. For the most part, doctors and administrators tend to answer the first type of questions only, as they feel unqualified to address or express an opinion concerning affective issues. This suggests that regular training in creative writing and reading could be interesting and useful for doctors and administrators, at least in helping them to be more sensitive to the subtleties and complexities of the patients and the patient's family's letters.