General
albatross
What does albatross mean?
A patient with a chronic, incurable condition who remains attached to a particular physician for a very long time, felt as a burden.
"That patient's been my albatross since residency."
Origin
Alludes to Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' where the albatross is a burden hung round the neck.
Frequently asked questions
What does albatross mean in medicine?
It refers to a chronically or incurably ill patient who stays attached to one doctor for years and is felt as an ongoing burden.
Where does the term come from?
It alludes to Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' in which a dead albatross is hung round the sailor's neck as a burden.
Is it an insult to the patient?
It reflects the doctor's sense of burden rather than dislike, but it is unflattering slang not meant for patients' ears.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
