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Two aspects of the patient's state may be reported. The first aspect is the patient's current state, which may be reported as "good" or "serious," for instance. Second, the patient's short-term prognosis may be reported. Examples include that the patient is improving or getting worse. If no immediate
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Definitions vary among hospitals, and it is even possible for a patient to be upgraded or downgraded simply by being moved from one place to another, with no change in actual physical state. Furthermore, medical science is a highly complex discipline dealing with complicated and often overlapping
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The release of patient information to the press is strictly controlled in the NHS. The
Department of Health publishes a guideline to NHS Trusts. In general, no information can be released without patient consent, unless there are exceptional circumstances. If consent is withheld, the hospital
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has advised doctors not to use the word "stable" either as a condition or in conjunction with another condition, especially one that is critical, as it inherently implies unpredictability and the instability of vital signs. Despite this, "critical but stable" conditions are frequently reported,
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threats to life and well-being. In the case of possibly life-threatening illness, a patient may be treated by a dozen or more specialists, each with their area of medical expertise. There can be a range of opinions concerning that patient's condition.
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243:(NHS) trust has its own guidance for statements to the press. The Department of Health's code of practice has no official definitions of the standard phrases use. Terms typically used by NHS trusts include:
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and desire to avoid litigation associated with its breach have prompted doctors and hospitals to use these terms as an alternative to disclosing specific medical conditions.
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348:; (2003-02-01). AHA: Advisory: HIPAA Updated Guidelines for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients. American Hospital Association. Retrieved and
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likely because the word "critical" in mainstream usage is often used to denote a condition that is severe and immediately life-threatening.
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advises physicians to use the following one-word conditions in describing a patient's condition to those inquiring, including the media.
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Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
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333:"Stable" is not mutually exclusive with "critical". Stable merely means that no immediate change is anticipated.
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Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is seriously ill. Indicators are questionable.
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Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable.
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Confidentiality: NHS Code of
Practice - supplementary guidance: public interest disclosures, 22 November 2010
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are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent.
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cannot state even that to the press, as it would confirm that the patient was receiving treatment.
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is frequently used as a qualifier to denote conditions where a patient has stable vital signs.
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The use of such condition terminology in the U.S. media has increased since the passing of the
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A wide range of terms may be used to describe a patient's condition in the United States. The
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Ashford & St. Peter's
Hospitals NHS Trust Policy for Handling Press Enquiries
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317:"Virginia shooting: hospital says Steve Scalise in 'critical condition' – latest"
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What does it mean when a patient is in 'critical' or 'serious' condition?
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One's current state of health, usually within a hospital
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412:Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust: condition checks
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138:Patient awaiting physician and/or assessment.
43:The examples and perspective in this article
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184:Other terms used include
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223:in 1996. Concern for
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55:improve this article
45:may not represent a
462:Medical terminology
263:Critical but stable
194:critical but stable
394:2007-12-04 at the
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198:serious but stable
190:extremely critical
18:Critical condition
400:The Straight Dope
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283:Comfortable
180:Other terms
145:Vital signs
303:References
293:Discharged
253:Brain dead
109:physicians
105:news media
71:June 2024
59:talk page
456:Category
432:archived
430:website
416:archived
414:website
392:Archived
367:CBS News
350:archived
258:Critical
248:Deceased
162:Critical
98:hospital
53:You may
327:15 June
268:Serious
204:, and
202:guarded
156:Serious
101:patient
273:Stable
117:stable
239:Each
221:HIPAA
186:grave
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211:The
173:died
168:Dead
150:Fair
141:Good
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