In this article, Marc Le Pape examines a variety of situations where applying the concept of culture can prove problematic. To explore how this concept is applied in a humanitarian aid context, the author asks numerous questions: During a crisis, is it appropriate for humanitarian workers to call on anthropologists in an emergency to eventually gain a better understanding of the communities involved? Who are the informants and interpreters employed by humanitarian workers for their networks and knowledge of local social dynamics? How much of a challenge is translation in the caregiver-patient relationship? Why take rumours about the medical field seriously?