Patient
A patient is the name given to any person who is ill or injured and is being treated by, or in need of treatment by, a physician or other medical professional.
Health consumer or health care consumer is another name for patient, usually used by some governmental agencies, insurance companies, and/or patient groups.
In the case of a terminal patient, death is approaching, and no treatment aimed at curing is available, just palliative care.
The word patient is derived from the Latin pati meaning "to suffer".
See also
Categories: Healthcare | Medical terms