Patient

Why do we call someone undergoing medical treatment a “patient?”  It comes from the same root word for the virtue of patience.  The patient is undergoing some experience that is anywhere from inconvenient to painful, but in the hopes that the treatment will lead to a happier conclusion or healing.  I find that things happen in my life that are irritating, or painful, and I know that I need patience to get through it all as best I can.  I cannot prevent the suffering, but a patient attitude can make me a better person, take stress off of the one treating me, and even help in the healing.  Attitude can have a healing effect.  Attitude participates in better or worse results, depending on our level of patience.