Medical slang

Medical slang is a form of slang used by doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital or medical staff. Its central aspect is the use of facetious but impressive-sounding acronyms and invented terminology to describe patients, co-workers or tricky situations. It serves, in other words, as a convenient if often gruesome code between medical professionals. Medical slang is to be found in numerous languages but in English, in particular, it has entered popular culture via TV hospital/forensic dramas such as Casualty, Holby City, ER, House MD, NCIS, Scrubs and Green Wing.

Limitations on use

In many countries, facetious or insulting acronyms are now considered unethical and unacceptable, and patients can demand access to their medical records. Medical facilities risk being sued by patients offended by the descriptions. Another reason for the decline is that facetious acronyms could be confused with genuine medical terms and the wrong treatment administered.

In one of his annual reports (related by the BBC), medical slang collector Dr. Adam Fox cited an example where a practitioner had entered “TTFO,” meaning “told to ,” on a patient’s chart. When questioned about the chart entry, the practitioner was quick-witted enough to say that the initials stood for “to take fluids orally.” While this may or may not be true, it indicates the danger of using informal — and frequently insulting — acronyms.

As a result, medical slang tends to be restricted to oral use and to informal notes or E-mails which do not form part of a patient’s formal records. It may also be used among medical staff outside of the hospital. It is not found on patients’ charts and, due to growing awareness of medical slang, often not used in front of patients themselves.

Non-English

Although online medical slang dictionaries are primarily from English-speaking countries, non-English medical slang has been collected by Fox from elsewhere. Brazilian medical slang includes PIMBA ("Pé Inchado Mulambo Bêbado Atropelado" meaning "swollen-footed, drunk, run-over beggar"), Poliesculhambado (multi-messed-up patient) and Trambiclínica (a "fraudulent clinic" staffed cheaply by medical students)

AGMI - Ain't Gonna Make It

Agnostication - A substitute for prognostication. Term used to describe the usually vain attempt to answer the question: "How long have I got, doc?"

ART - Assuming Room Temperature (dying)

Ash cash - UK peculiarity of house officers obtaining payment for signing cremation forms

ATS - Acute Thespian Syndrome (the patient is faking illness)

Baby Catcher - an obstetrician May also mean "Certain To Die"

Crump - When a patient tries to die on the medical practitioner. Usage: "My patient tried to crump on me repeatedly throughout the night".

DBI - Dirt Bag Index - multiply the number of tattoos by the number of missing teeth to give an estimate of the number of days since the patient last bathed.

DRT - Dead Right There

EFT - Eleventh Floor Transfer (in a 10 floor hospital; refers to patient who is very close to death)

Ex Arbor - Someone who is out of their tree, literally out of their mind.

FUBAR - Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition

F.BUNDY - Refers to slowly dying patient who is Fucked, But Unfortunately Not Dead Yet. Also TF.BUNDY: Totally fucked but unfortunately not dead yet.

FLK - Funny Looking Kid - used to indicate a child (usually a newborn) whose habitus or overall appearance, while normal in gross anatomy, suggests a need further medical investigation for congenital and genetic anomalies. Gas Passer - an anesthesiologist (also Gasser, Gas Man or Gaswallah) GLM - good looking mum (MILF in the US)

PPP - Piss Poor Protoplasm - a patient endowed with inferior/defective genetic material

Pumpkin positive refers to the idea that a person's brain is so tiny that a penlight shone into their mouth will make their empty head gleam like a Jack-o'-lantern. Testiculation - Description of a gesture typically used by hospital consultant "when holding forth on subject on which he or she has little knowledge". Gesture is of an upturned hand with outstretched fingers pointed upwards, clutching an invisible pair of testicles..

WNL - Used for recording vital signs. It can mean "within normal limits" or "we never looked".

Woolworth's Test - Anaesthetic term (if you could have imagined patient shopping in Woolies, it's safe to give a general anaesthetic)

WTDB (Pronounced "whiskey tango DB") - White Trash Douchebag

See also

Acronyms in healthcare

List of medical abbreviations

References

Further reading

— Discussion of the "usage, derivation, and psychological, ethical, and legal aspects of slang terminology in medicine" as well as a glossary of common UK medical slang terms — Medical Slang around the world

Online Housestaff Community features Top 5 Annoying Medical Terms

Category:Occupational cryptolects * Category:Medical lists