| Part of a series on Patients |
| Patients |
|---|
| Concepts |
| Consent |
| Rights |
| Approaches |
| Abuse |
| Medical sociology |
A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, optometrist, dentist, veterinarian, or other health care provider.