Terminal illness

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Terminal illness or end-stage disease is a disease that cannot be cured, or adequately treated, and typically results in the death of the patient. This term is usually used for progressive diseases such as certain cancers, rather than fatal injury. In popular use, it indicates a disease that will progress until death with near absolute certainty, regardless of treatment. A patient who has such an illness is a terminally ill patient. There is no standardized life expectancy for a patient to be considered terminal, although it is generally months or less. An illness which will result in premature death, even if that death may be many years away, is a life-limiting illness. An illness which is lifelong but not life-shortening is a chronic condition. Terminal patients usually have options for disease management after diagnosis; examples may include caregiving, continued treatment, palliative and hospice care, and physician-assisted suicide. Decisions regarding management are made by the patient...

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