Medicine

Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and injury in humans. It encompasses a wide range of health care professions, educational disciplines, and systems of care designed to promote health, alleviate suffering, and extend life.

Historically, medicine began with practical healing traditions and evolved through the development of anatomical knowledge, germ theory, vaccines, anesthesia, and modern diagnostic tools. Today medicine integrates basic science research with clinical care, and it relies on evidence gathered from laboratory studies, clinical trials, and population health data. Major branches include internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, anesthesiology, and primary care, along with fields such as pharmacology, pathology, radiology, and rehabilitation.

Clinical work involves taking patient histories, performing examinations, ordering and interpreting tests, and delivering treatments that may be pharmacologic, surgical, or supportive. Prevention and public health focus on reducing risk factors, vaccination, screening, and health education. Medicine also emphasizes patient safety, ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, and professional standards.

Education and regulation vary by country but generally require university study, clinical training, and licensing. Healthcare systems aim to coordinate care across settings, incorporating teams of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and administrators. Emerging trends include personalized or precision medicine, digital health, telemedicine, data-driven decision making, and efforts to address antimicrobial resistance and global health disparities.