heartsink patient en · NOUN
Etymology
From the idea that the patient's approach makes the doctor's heart sink in dread.
Meanings
- (derogatory, informal) A recurring patient who cannot be definitively cured, such as one whose condition is undiagnosable or untreatable or who presents nebulous symptoms.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| heartsink patients | Number=Plur | lexicographic |