Hospitalized patients are most likely to be treated as socially dead if they are on a ________ trajectory.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients on a lingering trajectory are those who have a chronic illness or multiple co-morbidities that lead to a prolonged hospital stay. These patients are at the highest risk of being treated as socially dead, as they may become isolated from their community and lose social connections. On the other hand, patients on an expected quick trajectory may not have the same level of social death, as they are expected to recover quickly and return to their normal lives. Patients on a crisis trajectory may also experience social death, but this is usually a temporary state brought on by the sudden onset of a medical emergency. Malingering is not a valid option as it refers to faking or exaggerating symptoms for personal gain, rather than a particular type of medical trajectory.

Hospitalized Patients Are Most Likely to Be Treated as Socially