noun
General Slang
FTD
· noun · medical
Failure To Die — the frail, dying patient who somehow keeps not dying.
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Definitions
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Black-humour chart-room acronym for the elderly, terminal patient who's been 'actively dying' for three weeks and is still on the ward. Sometimes parsed as 'Fixin' to Die.' Reflects the moral fatigue of geriatric and palliative work more than any cruelty — these are usually the patients staff care for most.
“Bed 12 is another FTD — family won't sign the DNR and she just keeps hanging on.”
by community
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FTD In A Sentence
Bed 12 is another FTD — family won't sign the DNR and she just keeps hanging on.
Origin & Usage
American hospital jargon; sits alongside GOMER and similar terms from the House of God lineage.
Variants
F.T.D.
People Also Ask
What does "FTD" mean in hospital slang?
FTD stands for "Failure To Die" — the frail, dying patient who somehow keeps not dying.
How do you use "FTD" in a sentence?
"Room 6 is a real FTD — critical for weeks and still hanging on."
Is "FTD" a formal medical term?
No — it's dark, informal staff slang, not an official diagnosis or clinical term.
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