Medicine – The Science and Practice of Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Disease
Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Modern medicine uses an empirical approach, where scientific evidence is used to inform decision-making. It is a highly technical profession that requires a medical degree for entry, and most countries have laws that restrict the practice of medicine to physicians who are licensed or registered. These laws are intended to ensure that patients receive competent medical care, and to protect against charlatans who may mislead or harm patients for personal gain or other motives.
The field of medicine is very broad and diverse. Physicians are trained in the basic sciences, which include anatomy (the study of the physical structure of living things), physiology (the study of normal body function), biochemistry (the study of chemical components in living organisms) and biology (the study of life). Several sub-specialty fields exist in these disciplines. For example, endocrinology focuses on hormones and their impact on the body, cytology (microscopic study of cells) and histology (the medical and scientific study of microscopic tissues). Biomechanics applies mathematics and physics to biological systems, while biostatistics is the application of statistics to biology.
Modern medicine also employs many non-physician health professionals whose work is integral to patient care. These healthcare professionals include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians and therapists such as physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. Many health professionals also have interdisciplinary training and work as part of a team with physicians.
The medical decision-making process usually begins with taking a history of the patient, including relevant personal and family medical history. This is then compared to the symptoms presented by the patient, along with any lab or imaging results. An initial list of possible diagnoses is then generated and a plan is made for further testing or specialist consultations, as required. The patient is then seen by a member of the medical team, usually the physician or surgeon.
The physician will review the patient’s condition and discuss treatment options, which may involve surgery or medications. The patient may then consent to the procedure or therapy, or decline. When a patient refuses treatment, the physician must document this refusal on an informed consent form. In some countries, this form is a legally binding document that can lead to legal consequences for the doctor. Medical ethics are governed by a code of professional conduct, based on the ancient Greek principle of Hippocratic Medicine: primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”). This principle is an essential part of clinical reasoning. A failure to follow this principle is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath. A physician who violates this oath can be subject to civil, criminal or professional sanctions. The scope of medical knowledge is constantly expanding, and a physician must keep up to date with new research in the fields of his or her specialty. This is often accomplished by attending conferences and seminars, or through online learning resources such as Medline Plus.
Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Modern medicine uses an empirical approach, where scientific evidence is used to inform decision-making. It is a highly technical profession that requires a medical degree for entry, and most countries have laws that restrict the practice of medicine to physicians who are licensed or registered. These laws are intended to ensure that patients receive competent medical care, and to protect against charlatans who may mislead or harm patients for personal gain or other motives. The field of medicine is very broad and diverse. Physicians are trained in the basic sciences, which include anatomy (the study of the physical structure of living things), physiology (the study of normal body function), biochemistry (the study of chemical components in living organisms) and biology (the study of life). Several sub-specialty fields exist in these disciplines. For example, endocrinology focuses on hormones and their impact on the body, cytology (microscopic study of cells) and histology (the medical and scientific study of microscopic tissues). Biomechanics applies mathematics and physics to biological systems, while biostatistics is the application of statistics to biology. Modern medicine also employs many non-physician health professionals whose work is integral to patient care. These healthcare professionals include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians and therapists such as physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. Many health professionals also have interdisciplinary training and work as part of a team with physicians. The medical decision-making process usually begins with taking a history of the patient, including relevant personal and family medical history. This is then compared to the symptoms presented by the patient, along with any lab or imaging results. An initial list of possible diagnoses is then generated and a plan is made for further testing or specialist consultations, as required. The patient is then seen by a member of the medical team, usually the physician or surgeon. The physician will review the patient’s condition and discuss treatment options, which may involve surgery or medications. The patient may then consent to the procedure or therapy, or decline. When a patient refuses treatment, the physician must document this refusal on an informed consent form. In some countries, this form is a legally binding document that can lead to legal consequences for the doctor. Medical ethics are governed by a code of professional conduct, based on the ancient Greek principle of Hippocratic Medicine: primum non nocere (“first, do no harm”). This principle is an essential part of clinical reasoning. A failure to follow this principle is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath. A physician who violates this oath can be subject to civil, criminal or professional sanctions. The scope of medical knowledge is constantly expanding, and a physician must keep up to date with new research in the fields of his or her specialty. This is often accomplished by attending conferences and seminars, or through online learning resources such as Medline Plus.