Heroic measure
Heroic measure
Heroic measure (pronunciation: /hɪˈroʊɪk ˈmɛʒər/) is a term used in medicine to describe aggressive, high-risk treatments intended to potentially save a life or improve the condition of a patient who is critically ill or near death.
Etymology
The term "heroic measure" originates from the Greek word "hērōikos" meaning "heroic" and the Latin word "mensura" meaning "measure". It is used metaphorically in medicine to describe treatments that are exceptionally challenging or require great courage and effort.
Related Terms
- Life-sustaining treatment: Any medical procedure, medication, or technology that can keep a patient alive for a period of time but cannot cure the underlying health condition.
- Palliative care: A type of care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.
- Intensive care unit (ICU): A department of a hospital where critically ill patients are housed for treatment by specialized staff.
- Do not resuscitate (DNR): A legal order written either in the hospital or on a legal form to respect the wishes of a patient not to undergo CPR or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) if their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing.
- Advance directive: A legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heroic measure
- Wikipedia's article - Heroic measure
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