iatrogenic

[ ahy-a-truh-jen-ik, ee-a- ]

adjective

1. (of a medical disorder) caused by the diagnosis, manner, or treatment of a physician.

iatrogenic

/ aɪˌætrəʊdʒɪˈnɪsɪtɪ; aɪˌætrəʊˈdʒɛnɪk /

adjective

1. med (of an illness or symptoms) induced in a patient as the result of a physician's words or actions, esp as a consequence of taking a drug prescribed by the physician
2. social welfare (of a problem) induced by the means of treating a problem but ascribed to the continuing natural development of the problem being treated

Derived Forms

• iatrogenicity, noun

Other Words From

• i·at·ro·ge·nic·i·ty [ahy-a-troh-j, uh, -, nis, -i-tee, ee-a-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of iatrogenic¹

First recorded in 1920–25; iatro- + -genic

Example Sentences

Ms. Hoffman became increasingly angry over what she began to call “iatrogenic pregnancies.”

From New York Times

If Whitaker is right, modern psychiatry, together with the pharmaceutical industry, has inflicted iatrogenic harm on millions of people.

From Scientific American

After all, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can have devastating iatrogenic effects, including heart disease, opportunistic infections, other forms of cancer and suicide.

From Scientific American

Other causes include trauma and “Iatrogenic during ocular surgery, such as astigmatic or radial keratotomy,” per the university.

From Fox News

This is an "iatrogenic" or doctor-fueled wave of addiction.

From Salon