Contraindication
Etymology
From Latin “contra” (against) and “indicare” (to point out), from “in-” and “dicare” (to proclaim). Where an “indication” is a sign pointing toward using a treatment, a contraindication is a sign pointing firmly against it. The paired words let medicine weigh, in the same breath, the reasons for and against any intervention.
noun · /kon-truh-in-dih-KAY-shuhn/
A specific reason why a treatment or drug should not be used in a particular person.
What it names
The flip side of a prescription — the circumstances that make an otherwise helpful treatment dangerous, such as a drug that is fine for most people but harmful for someone pregnant or on another medication.
Example
The pharmacist flagged a contraindication — the new pill could react badly with the blood thinner he already took.
Related idea
A contraindication is a reason not to give a treatment at all; a side effect is an unwanted result of one you do give. One is a warning against starting; the other is a cost you accept once you have.
See also