Diagnosis versus Dialogue: Oral Testimony and the Study of Pediatric Pain* AbstracL Thrcugh the peBpectives of the chlldren, this essay examines the communication beniveen pediatric pain patients and theirdoctoE. Based upon th€ oralhistoryre5ponsesofthlrtytwopatientswithchronicpalnpresentforevaluation atthe Pedlatric Pain Clinic at UCLA, oGltenimonywas employed to uncover a wide range of topics rclated to a child's experience with pain such as family dynamics, how and when pain became a life-changing factor, coping strategies, and externa sources that coniibute to the child's understandlng of pain. [,lost imporian! children were encouGged to expla n whlt it was like to be ln paii, not only to describe symptoms blt aiso to shie their dreams and hopet their fears and uncertainties-aswellisthe place of pain in theirwoid. l,lichael Nutkiewicz recelved his doctorate in history He ha, serued as senior Historian of the Suruivors of the Shoah Visual Hittory Foundation and Executive Director of the Program torTortureVictims in Loe Angeles. Frcm 20Ol to 2007, he w.s a memberofthe UCLA Centerforthe lntediscipllnary Study andTrcatmentof Pain. He is currently Dircctor ot Refugee Resettlement Pmqrams at Catholk Cha ties of New Mexlco. E-mall: darchelnoam@yahoo.com 06lienimony hasfound its placewithin the dlrciplineof history and has become an lnvaluable source for histoicaldata collection and explanation. Poject'such as the Slrvivo6 of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, Columbia Unlve6ity's multiple September ll 06l History Prolects, and the OEI History of Human Cenetics Project at UCLA Center for Society and Geneucs attest to the range of Kcywords: children, doctort oGltest mony, pain, qualitative rerearch 'A kninonie quoted e iiom the UCLA lit€diaiplniry P3in study crolp, NIMH cEnt No Rolvh6l?79.-he aeresre e 6.oJdeo @see 20o .'d2005 Th. 06l H story R*ie 2co3, vo 3t No.l, pp.ll 2l @ The Author 2m3. Pub shed by orfod Ui ve6ity Prc$ on beha f of the oE L Hinory A6e.iat on Allighterc$rued. For pemi$ionr, pleaq e'mril jouhar pem s onr@oxfodjoumale oq