1.
doctor in charge (of a patient); attending physician
The doctor specifically responsible for a particular patient's care in a hospital or clinic. This is the physician the patient sees regularly for that condition and who coordinates their treatment.
担当医に相談する。
To consult with the attending physician.
担当医が変わりました。
My doctor in charge has changed.
手術のことは担当医に聞いてみてください。
Please ask the attending physician about the surgery.
担当医から検査結果について詳しい説明を受けた。
I received a detailed explanation of the test results from my attending physician.
Literally "the doctor in charge," formed from 担当 (being in charge of) + 医 (doctor). This is the standard term used in Japanese hospitals when referring to a specific patient's physician.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 担当医に相談する: to consult with the attending physician
- 担当医に聞く: to ask the attending doctor
- 担当医が変わる: to have a change of attending physician
- 担当医の先生: the doctor in charge (polite)
- 担当医の指示: instructions from the attending physician
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 主治医: primary care physician — emphasizes a longer-term relationship; the doctor a patient regularly relies on
- 医師: physician — a formal general term for doctors
- 先生: doctor (as address term) — how patients actually address a doctor in conversation
- かかりつけ医: family doctor; regular doctor — the doctor a family or individual habitually visits, similar to a general practitioner
USAGE:
担当医 emphasizes the assignment of a specific doctor to a specific case, so it is common in hospitals where a patient is assigned a doctor upon admission. 主治医 overlaps in meaning but is used more for ongoing care relationships.