In the Translator, you can read data from a database by either calling stored procedures or using conn:query{}
to execute ad hoc SQL SELECT statements on a database. See Writing SQL Statements.
local R = conn:query{sql='SELECT * FROM Patients WHERE LastName=' ..conn:quote(lastName)}
The conn:query{}
method prevents the accidental use of SQL statements that might modify the database from the Translator, which automatically executes when you make script changes or sample data changes.