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iatrogenic

adj. denoting or relating to a pathological condition that is inadvertently induced or aggravated in a patient by a health care provider. It may be due to the behavior of the provider (e.g., the manner in which he or she examined the patient) or be a result of the treatment he or she prescribed. For example, an iatrogenic addiction is a dependence on a substance, most often a painkiller or minor tranquilizer, originally prescribed by a physician to treat a physical or psychological disorder. The process of developing an iatrogenic condition is called iatrogenesis (or iatrogeny).

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