Nov 6, 2008 21:43
15 yrs ago
Japanese term

ことより

Japanese to English Medical General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
In the following (and in general), I'm not sure whether this conjunction means 'rather than' or 'because/on the basis of'.

不安や疼痛は個人の主観的な体験であり、様々な要因が影響するが、今回はすでに市販された医療器材である ことより、患者には針の種類を知らせることなく使用したので、医療従事者の説明が結果を左右したとは考え難い。

This relates to a study comparing conventional needles with a safety needle already sold in the west but not Japan.

It continues,
患者へのマイナスの影響がなく、穿刺した医療従事者の使用感も従来の器材とは変わらない ことより、今後は可能な範囲において安全性の高い器材を選択し使用することが妥当であると考える。

It seems to be functioning like ことから but I can also just about see the alternative interpretation.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 because

Proposed translations

+7
24 mins
Selected

because

In these two cases, this means "because." It is clear in the second one. The first one is a little ambiguous. I think this means because because when you use this to mean "rather than," you would need something contrasting. For example,

市販されたものであることより、まだ新しいものであることの方が...

There is nothing contrasting, so I don't think this means "Rather than."

I don't know why the fact that this is already commercially available can be areason not to tell patients what kid of needle it is, though... Well, my doctor never told me what kind of needle she or he is using anyway.
Peer comment(s):

agree Katalin Horváth McClure : Yes, I was about to post the same answer. In the first sentence, the doctor is explaining that he did not tell the patients about the different needele because he did not have to. If it is an experimental product, it is his obligation to tell the patient.
2 mins
Thanks
agree Mika Jarmusz
10 mins
Thanks
agree Yumico Tanaka (X) : "Due to the facts that..." is the actual translation because こと means things, events, etc. But they basically mean the same, eh.
40 mins
Thanks
agree sak1234
1 hr
Thanks
agree yumom
1 hr
Thanks
agree bigcat
1 hr
Thanks
agree Will Matter
5 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks"
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