Eliminating possessive form of eponyms
There has been continuing debate over the use of the possessive form for eponyms, but the transition has taken place. Use of the nonpossessive form of eponyms has become standard in medical language.
Following is an explanation from the AMA Manual of Style:
One reason for preferring the nonpossessive form is that, although eponyms are possessive nouns using proper names, they are structurally adjectival and should not convey a true possessive sense.
As always, use the possessive form if client or account preference specifies it.
Apgar score NOT Apgar's score
Babinski sign NOT Babinski's sign
Gram stain NOT Gram's stain
As always, there are exceptions.
When the noun following the eponym is omitted, the possessive form is preferred.
The patient's daughter reports that the patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
OR
The patient's daughter reports that the patient has been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.
He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's late last year.
OR
He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma late last year.
The possessive form is retained if it is part of the name of an organization of is used verbatim in a quotation or citation.
The Alzheimer's Association
He gave a presentation on Reye's Syndrome in the Pacific Northwest.
The possessive form is also retained for noneponymous terms describing disorders characteristic of certain occupations or activities.
tailor's bunion
gamekeeper's thumb
coal workers' pneumoconiosis
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