Medical state

United States

A wide range of terms may be used to describe a patient's condition in the United States. The American Hospital Association advises physicians to use the following one-word conditions in describing a patient's condition to those inquiring, including the media.

;Undetermined: Patient awaiting physician and/or assessment. ;Good: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent. ;Fair: Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable. ;Serious: Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable. ;Critical: Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable. ;Dead:Vital signs have ceased. Patient has died.

Other terms

Other terms used include grave, extremely critical, critical but stable, serious but stable, guarded, and satisfactory.

The American Hospital Association 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, likely because the word "critical" in mainstream usage is often used to denote a condition that is severe and immediately life-threatening.

The use of such condition terminology in the U.S. media has increased since the passing of the HIPAA in 1996. Concern for patient privacy 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.

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 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.

United Kingdom

Each National Health Service (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:

• Deceased
• Brain dead
• Critical
• Critical but stable
• Serious
• Stable
• Satisfactory
• Comfortable
• Progressing well
• Discharged

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 cannot state even that to the press, as it would confirm that the patient was receiving treatment.

References

References

1. (14 June 2017). "Virginia shooting: hospital says Steve Scalise in 'critical condition' – latest". The Guardian.
2. [[American Hospital Association]]; (2003-02-01). AHA: Advisory: HIPAA Updated Guidelines for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients. American Hospital Association. Retrieved and [https://web.archive.org/web/20081122053845/http://www.aha.org/aha/advisory/2003/030201-media-adv.html archived] on 2008-01-28.
3. (27 December 2012). "Former President Bush remains in ICU with lingering fever". CBS News.
4. "[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcritical.html What does it mean when a patient is in 'critical' or 'serious' condition?] {{webarchive. link. (2007-12-04 ", [[The Straight Dope]], 18 October 1999. Accessed on 10 January 2011.)
5. [http://www.royalfree.org.uk/default.aspx?top_nav_id=2&sel_left_nav=72&tab_id=535 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust: condition checks] website [https://web.archive.org/web/20080118175157/http://www.royalfree.org.uk/default.aspx?top_nav_id=2&sel_left_nav=72&tab_id=535 archived] 16 December 2007
6. [http://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/intranet/Ashford---/Publicatio/Policies-a/Handling-press-enquiries.doc Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Policy for Handling Press Enquiries] website [https://web.archive.org/web/20081112192504/http://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/intranet/Ashford---/Publicatio/Policies-a/Handling-press-enquiries.doc archived] 16 December 2007
7. [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/confidentiality-nhs-code-of-practice-supplementary-guidance-public-interest-disclosures Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice - supplementary guidance: public interest disclosures, 22 November 2010]