End-of-Life Decision Making Glossary of Medical Terms

Advance directives: These directives pertain to treatment preferences and the designation of a surrogate decision-maker in the event that a person should become unable to make medical decisions on their own behalf. Advance directives generally fall into three categories: living will, power of attorney and health care proxy.
See the entire definition of Advance directives

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environmentally modulated.
See the entire definition of Aging

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another. Synthetic antibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks.
See the entire definition of Antibiotic

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium ( skull ). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."
See the entire definition of Brain

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
See the entire definition of Breathing

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread).
See the entire definition of Cancer

Cardiopulmonary: Having to do with both the heart and lungs.
See the entire definition of Cardiopulmonary

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: The emergency substitution of heart and lung action to restore life to someone who appears dead. The two main components of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are chest compression to make the heart pump and mouth-to-mouth ventilation to breath for the victim.
See the entire definition of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Code: The genetic code is the correspondence between the triplet of bases in DNA with the amino acids. The discovery of the genetic code clearly ranks as one of the premiere events of what has been called the Golden Age of Biology (and Medicine).
See the entire definition of Code

CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation . Also cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and computer-based patient records.
See the entire definition of CPR

Dementia : Significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning.
See the entire definition of Dementia

Durable power of attorney: This is a type of advance medical directive in which legal documents provide the power of attorney to another person in the case of an incapacitating medical condition.
See the entire definition of Durable power of attorney

End stage: The last phase in the course of a progressive disease. As in end-stage liver disease, end-stage lung disease, end-stage renal disease, end-stage cancer , etc. The term "end stage" has come to replace "terminal" because somehow "end stage" seems more scientific and less despairing than "terminal." The only "stage" past "end stage" is usually death or a reprieve from it by a transplant.
See the entire definition of End stage

Father: (1) The male parent. (2) One who originates. For example, " Wilhelm Roentgen is considered the father of radiology ." (3) To produce offspring as a male. (4) To provide paternal protection and guidance to children.
See the entire definition of Father

Geriatrics: The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis , treatment and prevention of disease in older people and the problems specific to aging .
See the entire definition of Geriatrics

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. It is positioned in the chest behind the sternum (breastbone; in front of the trachea, esophagus, and aorta; and above the diaphragm muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs about 10.5 ounces. It is cone-shaped, with the point of the cone pointing down to the left. Two-thirds of the heart lies in the left side of the chest with the balance in the right chest.
See the entire definition of Heart

Heterosexual: A person sexually attracted to persons of the opposite sex. Or a person who has sexual relations with the opposite sex. Colloquially known as "straight."
See the entire definition of Heterosexual

Hospice: A program or facility that provides special care for people who are near the end of life and for their families. Hospice care can be provided at home, in a hospice or another freestanding facility, or within a hospital . See also: Hospice care .
See the entire definition of Hospice

Hospital: It may seem unnecessary to define a "hospital" since everyone knows the nature of a hospital. A hospital began as a charitable institution for the needy, aged, infirm, or young.
See the entire definition of Hospital

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular condition or circumstance. For example, certain medications are indicated for the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy while others are contraindicated .
See the entire definition of Indicate

Intensive care: See critical care .
See the entire definition of Intensive care

Living will: A living will is one form of advance medical directive. Advance medical directives pertain to treatment preferences and the designation of a surrogate decision-maker in the event that a person should become unable to make medical decisions on their own behalf.
See the entire definition of Living will

Medicaid: State programs of public assistance to persons regardless of age whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for health care. The United States federal government provides matching funds to the state Medicaid programs.
See the entire definition of Medicaid

Medicare: The United States government's health insurance program for:

• "senior citizens" -- people 65 years of age or older,
• certain younger people with specific disabilities, and
• people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) -- permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant.

See the entire definition of Medicare

Organic: 1. A chemical compound that contains carbon.
2. Related to an organ.
3. Grown or prepared without the use of chemicals or pesticides, as in organic food.
See the entire definition of Organic

Organic brain syndrome: Psychiatric or neurological symptoms, including problems with attention, concentration, and memory, confusion, anxiety, and depression, arising from damage to or disease in the brain. Also called organic mental disorder. See also: Neurobiological disorder .
See the entire definition of Organic brain syndrome

Pharmacy: A location where prescription drugs are sold. A pharmacy is, by law, constantly supervised by a licensed pharmacist.
See the entire definition of Pharmacy

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
See the entire definition of Pneumonia

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry , the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis , and treatment of mental illness.
See the entire definition of Psychiatric

Resuscitate: To restore to life. Derived from the Latin resuscitare, to reawaken.
See the entire definition of Resuscitate

Resuscitation: The procedure of restoring to life, as in cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ).
See the entire definition of Resuscitation

Senility: 1. Originally, old age. 2. The physical decline associated with old age. 3. The mental decline once associated with old age but now known to be due to dementia , as for instance Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis. "The road to senility is paved with plaques." (Paul F. Wehrle, MD [1921-2004] pediatrician and vaccine researcher who helped eradicate smallpox)
See the entire definition of Senility

Sign: Any objective evidence of disease. Gross blood in the stool is a sign of disease. It can be recognized by the patient, doctor, nurse, or others. In contrast, a symptom is, by its nature, subjective. Abdominal pain is a symptom. It is something only the patient can know.
See the entire definition of Sign

Stage: As regards cancer , the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. See also: Staging .
See the entire definition of Stage

Syndrome: A set of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together and which reflect the presence of a particular disease or an increased chance of developing a particular disease.
See the entire definition of Syndrome

Therapy: The treatment of disease .
See the entire definition of Therapy

Most Popular Topics

Explore 80+ Centers

Search Medical Dictionary

or A-Z List

We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here.

©2008 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See Additional Information.