General
camille
What does camille mean?
Slang for a patient who dramatises illness or impending death, named after the tuberculosis-stricken heroine of the play/film 'Camille.'
"Full Camille performance in bed 6, though the tests are all normal."
Origin
After the melodramatic dying heroine of Alexandre Dumas fils' 'Camille.'
Frequently asked questions
What does calling a patient a Camille mean?
It labels a patient who theatrically dramatises being gravely ill or dying, often when their test results are actually normal.
Where does the term Camille come from?
It's named after the melodramatic tuberculosis-stricken heroine of Alexandre Dumas fils' 'Camille,' a famously theatrical dying character.
Is it a compliment?
No, it's mocking hospital slang implying the patient is exaggerating or performing their illness.
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