How is a patient who does not respond to painful stimuli best described?

A patient who does not respond to painful stimuli is best described as being comatose. This term is used in medical practice to refer to a state of unresponsiveness in which a person cannot be awakened, and shows no response to external stimuli, including painful ones. Comatose patients exhibit no purposeful movement, meaning they do not react even to strong physical prompts such as pinching or sternal rubs.

In contrast, the other terms imply different levels of consciousness. For example, obtunded describes a state of decreased alertness and responsiveness, where a patient may respond minimally to stimuli but is not completely unresponsive. Stuporous refers to a state where a patient is difficult to arouse but may respond to painful stimuli, which differentiates it from a comatose state. Apathetic indicates a lack of interest or motivation, which is not specifically related to the degree of response to stimuli. Therefore, the classification of a patient who does not respond to any stimuli, including pain, accurately aligns with the definition of being comatose.