Medicine : Science & Art

My mother often told me that “Medicine is all about science and art, Kak. Everything about our field of work is. You can’t separate one from another” And as an adjunction of that, we, healthcare professional ourselves heard that very same phrase too from our teachers all the time. We have heard that “science & art” term our whole lives.

Roger (2006) says in his “Introduction to the study of medicine” book that many people think of medicine as science, while others think it’s an art. Another group viewed medicine as both. A science and an art. His statement had been cemented by Solomon (2006) : Medicine is supposed to be a scientific study and its practice is an art. The study of disease requires the aid of science.

Art is essential in our practice lives. We need it to humanize medisch or as some might say it as “medical humanities practice”. We have to build an urge to learn that particular skill. We practitioners give our prescriptions per-person, very individual-based. That’s when our art kicks in. What will we do for him/her with their illnesses (physical and mental-wise), what will we do for them as themselves, not as others, with all of the complexity of theirs.

Empathy is also included there. A teacher of mine gave us this insight lately, he will always opened up his discussion by “Have you guys watched Joker? What do you think of that movie?” and so each of us gave our own opinion, then he will start to talked to us about the importance of empathy. He then proceeded by saying “We should do that. We should nurture and implement empathy in our everyday lives. Really try to put yourself in others’ shoes. Try hard to understand their point of view, the reason of why they did what they did, and respect every decisions of theirs, no matter what. Well, sure he also had issues on himself but we could at least take that empathy message home.”

Well, all of that pretty much sums up everything about science and art in medicine. Wish it will shed some light into you. Happy reading!

(photo courtesy of google.com)

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