General
expectant
What does expectant mean?
A triage category and grim slang for a wounded person who is not expected to survive.
"The medic marked him expectant and moved to the next casualty."
Origin
U.S. military medical triage terminology.
Frequently asked questions
What does expectant mean in military triage?
It labels a casualty whose injuries are so severe they're not expected to survive, so limited resources go to those who can be saved.
Why is it called expectant?
The term euphemistically means the person is 'expected' to die; it comes from U.S. military medical triage terminology.
How is the word used?
A medic or corpsman marks a hopeless casualty as expectant and moves on to treat those who have a chance.
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