heartsink patient

English - English

Definition of heartsink patient in English English dictionary

A recurring patient who cannot be definitively cured, such as one whose condition is undiagnosable or untreatable or who presents nebulous symptoms

Related Terms

heartsink patients

plural form of heartsink patient

Hyphenation

heartsink pa·tient

Etymology

() From the idea that the patient's approach makes the doctor's heart sink in dread.