"Terminal" is always related to an underlying medical condition. It doesn't exist in isolation. Are you asserting that Mae has a medical condition with a prognosis of "terminal?"
You seem to think that it means that death is right around the corner. I was thinking it was closer to six months like the hospice guidelines dictate.
"Terminal" is always related to an underlying medical condition. The prognosis of terminal usually has a time component associated with it. Admission to hospice requires TWO things. A prognosis of terminal, and an estimated time to demise of 6 months or less.
Yes. The heart condition. She is only out of immediate danger say her doctors, new and old. Since Mae is not a candidate for surgery, that renders her aorta dissection as inoperable and probably fatal. I know the sister is being treated by the same doc and Mullinax claims that Dr. Aqel can treat the condition without surgery. Yet surgery seems planned for the sister if she hits a level 6 distress level which is critical. So surgery is a life saving procedure that Mae cannot benefit from.
Mae is 7 years older than her sister and already suffering advanced effects of the hereditary condition. In my book she's terminal. Not saying that I would deny her life support based solely on her heart condition.
Incidentally, it doesn't seem that "terminal" is a medical term. The only definition I find for "Terminal illness" is "When you get sick at the airport," from the Redneck Medical Guide.