Medical

Medical refers to the science and practice of medicine, the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, and the promotion of health. It covers clinical care, biomedical research, and public health, and involves a wide range of professionals, including physicians, nurses, therapists, and technicians. Medical knowledge is evidence-based and subject to ongoing refinement through research, clinical trials, and peer review.

Medical practice spans many disciplines, such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesia, radiology, and pathology, among others. It also includes preventive care, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

Education and training: In many countries, medical education begins with a professional degree, followed by residency or specialty training and licensure or board certification. Ongoing continuing medical education maintains competencies.

History and science: Modern medicine arose from both ancient traditions and the scientific revolution, with milestones including germ theory, vaccination, anesthesia, antibiotics, imaging techniques, and genomics.

Impact and governance: Medical research informs policy and health systems. Ethics emphasize autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, with emphasis on informed consent and patient safety. Healthcare systems organize delivery through primary, secondary, and tertiary care, supported by health information systems and public health programs. Global health addresses health inequities, disease control, and emergency response; challenges include rising costs, antimicrobial resistance, aging populations, and unequal access to care.