The Patient reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Patient

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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.

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