A container made of metal, fibre or plastic into which a person confined to bed can defaecate and, in the case of a female, urinate. Men use a urinal – a flask-shaped container – to urinate. Hospitals have special cleaning and sterilising equipment for bedpans. They are much less used than in the past because patients are encouraged to be mobile as soon as possible, and also because bedside commodes are preferred where this is practical.