Arstiteaduses

Arstiteadused, or medical science, is the scholarly field focused on understanding human health and disease and on developing methods to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. It spans basic biomedical disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology, and clinical sciences including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics. It also encompasses public health, epidemiology, health services research, and medical ethics, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and patient safety.

Historically, medical science emerged from practical healing traditions and evolved through the scientific revolution, clinical observation, and the development of randomized controlled trials. Today it employs a wide range of methods, from laboratory experimentation and translational research to imaging, genomics, biostatistics, and real-world data analysis. Education typically combines medical school with postgraduate training and ongoing professional development, along with licensure or board certification in many jurisdictions. The field aims to improve health outcomes, advance medical knowledge, and optimize health systems, while confronting challenges such as equitable access to care, rising costs, data privacy, and ethical issues in genetics and new technologies.