Which term is defined as 'a reason something should not be done'?

• A. Convulsive
• B. Cursory
• C. Contraindication
• D. Deficit

Answer: (C)

Contraindication means a reason something should not be done because it could cause harm or worsen the patient’s condition. In medical practice, it’s a factor that makes a treatment or procedure unsafe, so clinicians avoid it or choose alternatives. The definition given—“a reason something should not be done”—fits this concept exactly. For example, a severe allergy to a drug is a contraindication to using that drug; active major bleeding can be a contraindication to certain anticoagulants; pregnancy can be a contraindication to therapies with fetal risk. Other terms describe different ideas: convulsive relates to seizures, cursory means brief or superficial, and deficit refers to a lack or impairment, not a reason to withhold treatment. So the right term is contraindication.