The word “patient” has deep historical roots — and its origin gives insight into how medicine used to view people under care.
The word “patient” comes from the Latin:
patiens — meaning “one who suffers” or “one who endures“
It’s related to the verb patior, meaning “to suffer,” “to undergo,” or “to bear.”
So originally, a patient was someone who suffered or endured illness — someone passive, who received care or treatment, rather than someone actively doing something.
🧠 Why is this still used?
Historically, healthcare was something done to a person, often in the context of:
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Religious or charitable care
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Limited treatment options (patients mostly endured their illnesses)
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The role of doctors as “healers,” and patients as the sick who “waited patiently”
Even as medicine advanced, the term persisted — and still reflects:
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The person receiving care or treatment
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A distinction from the “professional” (doctor, nurse, etc.)
🩺 Is this changing?
Yes — there’s growing awareness that the term “patient” can imply passivity, while many prefer:
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Person living with
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Service user (used in mental health and social care)
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Client (used in private healthcare)
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Or just individual / person
That said, “patient” remains standard in medical, legal, and NHS documentation — but the language of healthcare is slowly evolving to be more person-centred.
