What term describes the continuation of aggressive medical treatment in terminally ill patients?

The term that describes the continuation of aggressive medical treatment in terminally ill patients is curative care. Curative care focuses on treating a disease or condition with the intention of achieving a cure or significant improvement in health status. This often involves intense interventions, such as surgeries, chemotherapy, or other aggressive treatments, aimed at prolonging life and eradicating the illness, even when the prognosis is poor.

In contrast, palliative care is designed to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, focusing on quality of life rather than aggressive treatment. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a specific form of palliative care that is provided for patients nearing the end of life, emphasizing comfort and support rather than curative measures. Investigational care typically involves experimental treatments that are still under study and not widely accepted as standard practice. Hence, curative care is the appropriate term for the continuation of aggressive medical treatment in terminally ill patients.