Medical interpreting needs to convey not only the content of what speakers say but the way they say it. This paper outlines a model of the discourse structure of the interpreted medical consultation. The generic structure of interpreted physicians' consultations shows eleven stages. During the climax, the physician announces his/her findings of the diagnoses and sets up a plan of action. The extent to which the patient complies with the plan of action does not depend just on the fact that an interpreter interpreted the consultation, but substantially on the rapport and impact that the physician had on the patient. So conveying accurately the interpersonal elements of what the physician and patient say to each other is crucial. Enhancing medical interpreters' understanding of how to 'read' the tenor of a physician's consulting style needs a theoretical basis. This paper offers a contribution to the development of such a theory.