The Modern-Day Physician No greater opportunity, responsibility, or obligation can fall to the lot of a human being than to become a physician. In the care of the suffering, [the physician] needs technical skill, scientific knowledge, and human understanding. . . . Tact, sympathy, and understanding are expected of the physician, for the patient is no mere collection of symptoms, signs, disordered functions, damaged organs, and disturbed emotions. [The patient] is human, fearful, and hopeful, seeking relief, help, and reassurance. –Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 1950 The practice of medicine has changed in significant ways since the first edition of this book. | Chapter 001. The Practice of Medicine Part 1 The Modern-Day Physician No greater opportunity responsibility or obligation can fall to the lot of a human being than to become a physician. In the care of the suffering the physician needs technical skill scientific knowledge and human understanding. . . . Tact sympathy and understanding are expected of the physician for the patient is no mere collection of symptoms signs disordered functions damaged organs and disturbed emotions. The patient is human fearful and hopeful seeking relief help and reassurance. -Harrison s Principles of Internal Medicine 1950 The practice of medicine has changed in significant ways since the first edition of this book appeared in 1950. The advent of molecular biology with its enormous implications for the biological sciences the sequencing of the human genome sophisticated new imaging techniques and advances in bioinformatics and information technology have contributed to an explosion of scientific information that has fundamentally changed the way we define diagnose treat and prevent disease. This explosion of scientific knowledge is not at all static as it continues to intensify with time. The widespread use of electronic medical records and the Internet have altered the way we practice medicine and exchange information. As today s physician struggles to integrate the copious amounts of scientific knowledge into everyday practice it is important to remember that the ultimate goal of medicine is to treat the patient. Despite more than 50 years of scientific advances since the first edition of this text it is critical to underscore that cultivating the intimate relationship that exists between physician and patient still lies at the heart of successful patient care. The Science and ART of Medicine Science-based technology and deductive reasoning form the foundation for the solution to many clinical problems. Spectacular advances in biochemistry cell biology and genomics coupled with newly
