terminal disease
Meaning of terminal disease: A terminal disease has progressed beyond the possibility of cure, shifting the aim of care toward comfort rather than reversing the underlying condition.
Definition of terminal disease
A terminal disease is a disease that has progressed to the point where it cannot be cured and is expected to lead to death, generally within a period that a physician can estimate, though the actual course varies from person to person. The designation reflects the current understanding of the disease's trajectory rather than an exact prediction of timing.
A terminal disease is distinct from a chronic disease more broadly, since many chronic diseases are managed over long periods without being expected to cause death, while a terminal disease has reached a stage beyond which available treatment can reverse or halt its progression.
Once a disease is considered terminal, the focus of care commonly shifts from treatments aimed at cure toward palliative and hospice care, which emphasize comfort, symptom control, and quality of remaining life. This shift in focus is a change in the goals of treatment rather than a withdrawal of medical attention.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The care team discussed a shift toward palliative care after the illness was determined to be a terminal disease.
Good to know
A terminal designation describes the expected trajectory of a disease rather than an exact timeline, and the shift toward palliative or hospice care that often follows represents a change in the goals of treatment rather than a reduction in medical attention.
Word origin
Where “terminal disease” comes from
Formed from Latin terminus, meaning boundary or end point.