General
professional patient
What does professional patient mean?
A person who repeatedly presents seeking a sick role, tests or admission without genuine acute need.
"He knows every symptom to say — a real professional patient."
Origin
US/UK medical slang; overlaps with factitious presentations.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'professional patient'?
Slang for someone who repeatedly presents seeking a sick role, tests or admission without a genuine acute need.
Is this the same as malingering?
It overlaps with malingering and factitious presentations, but the term is informal shorthand rather than a formal diagnosis.
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