Rela？？o do paciente surdo com o médico

non-verbal communication is important when caring for deaf patients, fostering excellence in health care. aim: an analysis of the legal and sociocultural aspects of the relation between deaf patients and physicians. methods: computerized databases for the period between 1996 and 2006 were used for collecting data; the keywords "patient", "deaf person", "communication" and "health" were used. a non-systematic search was made in scientific publications. results: these studies were grouped into two categories: communication between deaf patients and physicians, who has to deal with communication barriers when caring for deaf patients, and the importance of non-verbal communication in healthcare. deaf persons, their language, and their relation with physicians show the importance of sign language, endorsed by the federal law 10.436/02. conclusions: when deaf patients and physicians meet, they need to overcome communication barriers that may hinder the necessary bond in healthcare and the care that is provided; this may also affect the diagnosis and treatment. it is clear that public institutions should create programs for training healthcare professionals in the appropriate care of deaf patients.