General
train wreck
What does train wreck mean?
Slang for a critically ill or highly complex patient whose many failing systems make care overwhelming.
"This admission is a total train wreck — six active problems and climbing."
Origin
Metaphor comparing the patient's cascading problems to a catastrophic derailment.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'train wreck' mean in a hospital?
It's slang for a critically ill or highly complex patient with many severe, interacting problems that make care overwhelming.
Why do clinicians call a patient a train wreck?
The term compares the patient's cascading, failing systems to a catastrophic derailment.
Is 'train wreck' a respectful term?
It's informal jargon used among staff and not something said to or in front of patients.
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