A terminal illnesss is generally an active and progressive illness for which there is no cure and the prognosis is fatal. It is defined by the American Cancer Society as an irreversible illness that, without life-sustaining procedures, will result in death in the near future or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely. Some examples, among others, of terminal illnesses may include advanced cancer, some types of head injury, and multiple organ failure syndrome. The length of life expectancy may vary from entity to entity.
