[General] clerk (v)

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vil

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Dear teachers,

Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

The junior doctor clerks them – takes their medical history and examines them.

clerk = work as a clerk, as in the legal business; service (administrative)

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V
 

BobK

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The user seems to be using 'clerk' to mean something like 'processes in a way that involves clerical functions'. I have never met this usage, but it doesn't surprise me. Businesses (particularly ones working towards ISO 9000 :)-? I may have the number wrong, it's a long time since I was involved in that sort of thing) tend to invent home-made verbs willy-nilly in pursuit of 'having a documented process'.)

b
 
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Tdol

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I have seen it used in legal contexts, but with the preposition for.
 
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5jj

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I have seen it used in legal contexts, but with the preposition for.
That certainly sounds more natural to me, though I would accept it more in a sentence such as: The junior doctor clerks for his senior colleagues = does their clerical work for them.

I don't like the use in vil's original example at all, and I would understand it in a different way from vil: takes their medical history[STRIKE] and examines them][/STRIKE].

I'd be interested to know how it is used in legal contexts.
 
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riquecohen

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BobK

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...
I'd be interested to know how it is used in legal contexts.

I believe that, in the context of English law at least (Scottish law is different, so I can't even say 'British') it means 'operate as a clerk for', And not just any old 'clerk' - a Barristers' clerk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . This is by no means a lowly position; just taking down somebody's name and address would be way beneath him.

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vil

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I am all mixed-up for the heterogeneous statements concerning an understated verb.

Here is an excerpt from a 100% original English book, namely “Professional English in Use Medicine/ Eric H. Glendinning, Ron Howard / Cambridge University Press.

Consultant physicians and surgeons are responsible for a specific number of patients in the hospital. Each consultant has a team of junior doctors to help care for those patients.


When patients enter – or are admitted to – hospital they are usually seen first by one of the junior doctors on the ward where they will receive treatment and care.

[FONT=&quot]The junior doctor clerks them – takes their medical history and examines them. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Some time later the registrar also sees the patients, and may order investigations as tests., for example X-rays or an ECG, make a provisional diagnosis, and begin treatment. …..[/FONT]
 
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riquecohen

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[FONT=&quot]The junior doctor clerks them – takes their medical history and examines them. [/FONT]
Clerk is not used in a medical context in AmE.
 
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Tdol

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All the uses that I can find on the web point to the same text, so it might be the writer's idiolect or a form that exists but is not very common.
 
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