Patientinnen

Patientinnen is the feminine plural form of the German noun for a female patient. The term derives from die Patientin and is used in medical, clinical, and research contexts to distinguish women patients from male patients, who are referred to as Patienten. In many texts, the masculine form is used as a generic for mixed-gender groups, but contemporary German style often uses inclusive forms such as Patientinnen und Patienten to acknowledge all genders. The separate form Patientinnen appears in case-by-case usage, for example when reporting sex-disaggregated data or addressing a female patient group in guidelines, patient information materials, or clinical study reports.

In practice, the distinction informs medical communication; for example, patient histories, consent discussions, and information materials may specifically reference female patients, using terms like Patientin or Patientinnen to ensure relevance to women and to address sex-based differences in presentation or outcomes.

From a legal and ethical perspective, patient rights laws in German-speaking countries emphasize informed consent, confidentiality, and patient autonomy; these principles apply to all patients, including Patientinnen.

Language policies in healthcare increasingly promote gender-inclusive formulations, such as Patientinnen und Patienten, to acknowledge all genders in public-facing documents and to encourage inclusive communication while maintaining clarity about gender-specific considerations.