MEDICINE: SCIENCE OR ART? Bill 36 In Canada Will Take Away Physicians Right To Practice Medicine According To His Knowledge and Experience

Bill 36 passed in British Columbia. Restrictions on practicing medicine and heavy penalties if physicians do not comply. Suspension of license with anonymous complaints and while investigation is still occurring. Refusal of Ministry approved vaccines leads to delicensure.… pic.twitter.com/tNdPG4avm5

— Dr. Kat Lindley (@KLVeritas) May 15, 2023

IS MEDICINE A SCIENCE? OR IS IT AN ART? 

From NCBI:

That Medicine is a science is the popular belief, and this has been reinforced by the advent of ′evidence-based medicine. However, the view of science implied is a narrow one, foreign both to pure scientists and to artists and the art of medicine is devalued by this approach. There are both important differences and important similarities between science and the arts. The arts should contribute to evidence-based practice and education along with science, and have a role in many aspects of medical practice.

Saunders (2000) says, “The practice of clinical medicine with its daily judgments is both science and art. In the practice of clinical medicine, the art is not merely part of the ′medical humanities′ but is integrated to medicine as an applied science”. Warsop (2002) finally agrees by saying that science is of course essential to medicine, but medicine cannot be simply identified with pure science or even with applied science. The art of medicine is essentially composed of the clinical skills of listening and advocacy brought to bear in the consultation.

Conclusion  

Medicine is both an art and a science. Both are interdependent and inseparable, just like two sides of a coin. The importance of the art of medicine is because we have to deal with a human being, his or her body, mind and soul. 

To be a good medical practitioner, one has to become a good artist with sufficient scientific knowledge. Technology covered with the layer of art alone can bring relief to the sick. 

In the field of medical education, this dying art of medicine has to be revived throughout the world. So the conclusion to the debate on the status of medicine as art or science is crystal clear. 

Let us conclude with the famous words of Albert Einstein (Wikiquote, 2006): 

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom his emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.