Medical is the health care profession that deals with the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, and palliation of disease or injury. It also involves the promotion of health and wellness. Physicians and nurses are the core of the medical profession, which also includes many fields and specialties.
The word medicine comes from the Latin word mederi, meaning “to heal.” When we think of medicine today, we think of doctors and nurses working in hospitals treating sick and injured patients. Medical is both a practice and an occupation that requires knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, genetics, statistics, pharmacology, and other sciences. It requires an ability to understand complex information and make quick decisions in emergency situations. It also involves communication with patients and the public to explain complicated medical issues in terms they can understand.
In addition to the scientific aspects of medicine, it has a long history and is often influenced by cultural and religious beliefs. Prehistoric medicine included the use of plants (herbalism) and animal parts, and spiritual systems like animism (the idea that inanimate objects have spirits), shamanism, and divination. The study of medicine and its relationships to other fields is called medical anthropology.
Modern medical practices include drugs and surgery, but also a wide range of other therapies. These include acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, art therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. Some of these therapies are considered alternative medicine and others are complementary medicine, which means that they are used along with mainstream medical treatments.
Medicine as a field encompasses both the art and science of healing. The art of medicine includes the skills and training required to assess, diagnose, and treat a patient, including the use of therapeutic procedures, such as injections and sutures. The science of medicine includes the scientific investigation of diseases and their causes, as well as the development of new medical tools and techniques.
Medical research is a major component of modern medicine. The main tools of research are the laboratory and the clinical trial. Clinical trials are studies of the effects of new medical interventions, such as drugs or surgical techniques, in humans. A successful clinical trial must show that the intervention is safe and effective for its intended purpose.
Other branches of medicine include conservation medicine, which examines the relationship between humans and non-human animals and environmental conditions; diving medicine, which addresses problems related to breathing underwater; and forensic medicine, which investigates questions such as how a person died and what kind of weapon was used in their death. Medical ethics concern the rights and responsibilities of physicians and patients, and include the principles of beneficence — doing good for others — and non-maleficence — “first do no harm.” Medicine is a highly regulated profession, and practitioners must meet high standards of education and professionalism. Those who do not meet these standards can be subject to criminal or civil sanctions. For example, a doctor who fails to adequately diagnose or treat a patient may be guilty of malpractice.