Medical treatment is the use of medicine or surgery to treat an injury, illness, disease, or other physical or mental impairment. It is an important part of the health care system and is provided by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. Medical treatment can occur in hospital emergency departments, clinics, physician offices, private homes and nursing homes. Medical treatment is usually paid for by health insurance.
Modern medical practice has evolved from the early Western traditions based on herbalism, the four humours, and astrology, which were used to diagnose and treat human diseases. The practice of medicine has been further developed by scientific research, including clinical trials. Scientific studies are designed to be reproducible and to establish cause and effect relationships. Physicians must be well grounded in the quantitative disciplines of biostatistics and epidemiology in order to interpret and apply the vast amount of medical literature properly.
In many countries, the practice of medicine is regulated by medical boards and associations to ensure that all healthcare professionals are trained in a certain paradigm of health care. This is to encourage the spread of good practices and to discourage charlatans from practicing inadequate medicine for personal gain.
Medical treatment often includes the removal of foreign objects in a wound, application of antiseptics to cleanse and protect the wound from infection, and the administration of nonprescription medications, such as antibiotics, as needed. It also may involve the suturing of any wound, and the application of casts or other professional means to immobilize injured parts of the body. In addition, medical treatment can include the administration of tetanus boosters and other vaccines as prescribed by a doctor.
The ability of an individual to make decisions about his or her own health care, with full and complete information, is recognized as a fundamental ethical principle in medical practice. This principle is often referred to as the right of informed consent or the principle of autonomy. In some cases, this translates into the right of an individual to refuse clinically indicated medical treatment. This refusal should be based on adequate information and must take into account the person’s bodily integrity.