Should we use medical terms or layman's terms as tags?

Question

In this discussion about [renal-calculi] and [kidney-stones], the question has come up if we should use specialized medical terms or generic layman's terms for tagging.

What do you think?

Answer 1

While the focus of Health SE is still being discussed, the original site description so far has been:

Health SE is a Q&A site for medical specialists, students, dietitians and anyone with health-related questions.

Medical specialists, students and dietitians should understand medical terms, and they will also use these terms while (re)searching. However, most people with health-related questions who are not part of any of the former groups will probably have no idea what renal calculi are.

This is why I suggest the following approach:

Use generic layman's terms for tagging, and add technical medical terms as tag synonyms.

For an example, have a look at Kevin's answer (that actually inspired this answer).

Answer 2

I would be in favor of using both, as synonyms.

The rationale behind this is that depending on who you are as a user, you may be interested in one or the other.

(Just an) example: in first aid, a layman may be interested in searching or to tag a question with "nose bleed". A CFR, an EMT, etc, would be prone to use "epistaxis" instead, like a kind of conditioned reflex.