Terminal illness

Terminal illness (/tərˈmɪnəl ˈɪlnəs/), also known as a terminal disease or end-stage disease, is a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer or advanced heart disease than for trauma.

Etymology

The term "terminal" originates from the Latin word "terminus", meaning "end". In the context of illness, it refers to the end-stage of a disease where recovery is not expected.

Related Terms

Palliative care: A specialized form of medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness.
Hospice care: A type of care and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs.
Advance healthcare 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.
Do not resuscitate (DNR): A legal order written either in the hospital or on a legal form to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), in respect of the wishes of a patient in case their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing.
Euthanasia: The act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering.