La méfiance, les malentendus et les mensonges comme forme d´expression entre bénévoles et usagers d´un centre de soins gratuits

Abstract

Mistrust, misunderstandings and lies as a form of expression between the voluntary staff and users of a centre providing free care. This article stems from ethnographical research carried out between 2000 and 2002 in the centre providing free care in Paris, belonging to the NGO Médecins du Monde. The centre works with voluntary staff and most of the people treated are illegal immigrants. Insofar as humanitarian work uses biographies as a basis for its activities, it is particularly important to build up a relationship of trust. However, due to their illegal situation, immigrants are mistrustful towards care structures and humanitarian associations. For the same reasons, medical care itself comes up against mistrust, misunderstandings and lies which are relatively common between doctors and patients. Volunteer workers and users/ patients therefore take a stance in a cognitive and affective game playing out a relationship of otherness.