title: A nation of people called patients.
abstract: The implications of the causal and ubiquitous use, by doctors health-workers and politicians, of the word 'patient' are here discussed. Given that the many implications of this noun do not include health or normality (rather the contrary), it is questionable who, if anyone, profits from its indiscriminate use--and its use, even, at all.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Pickering
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012016:Reference Values; D009626:Terminology as Topic