Medical Science is the science which deals with the maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. The man has always been concerned with his own and others well being. It has been a matter of utter importance for a man from time immemorial. Throughout the ages scientists, researchers and medical practitioners have been constantly endeavouring to know more about the human body, its structure, functions and mechanisms. They have also been trying to set straight its malfunctioning and to protect it from the disease-causing germs. Man always wishes to keep his body system in its healthy state. Medical science has been constantly trying to devise ways and means to help the man in maintaining sound health. Medical Science provides remedies and cures and safeguards man against various maladies afflicting mankind. It ensures the well-being and proper working of the human machine. Man's search for curing diseases has to lead to various medicine systems like the Indian system, homoeopathy, western system (or the Allopath) etc. Various breakthroughs and advancements in Medical Science have had consequences, both negative and positive.
Disadvantages of Medical Science?
- Medical science has made a man develop some unusual and unnecessary concerns about his overall well-being. Common ailments like fever, headache etc. become a major concern and he rushes to doctors over such simple matters. Nature has provided the human body with its own defence mechanism which is capable enough to take care of common health problems.
- Medical science has also lead to over-dependence on it. Over-dependence on medicines leads to the serious problem of drug resistance. Studies have revealed that the human body has developed resistance to most of the antibiotics due to indiscriminate use.
- Female foeticide has been assisted by the development of the sex-determination test. Not only is it cruel but sex ratio also gets affected especially in developing countries like India.
- Cloning and euthanasia (mercy-killing) have created a serious moral dilemma.
- Medical Examination has become a tool for sexual abuse by many practitioners
- In spite of all its cures and breakthrough, the dreaded disease AIDS still afflicts humanity and its cure is eluding medical scientists
- Many medical practitioners become addicted to some medicines which stimulate the brain.
- Black marketing of organs has become a major business and often needy patients have to shell out a large amount of money to acquire an organ.
- Extraction of organs without permission is one of the major concern for the patients while undergoing the operation.
- Money becomes a primary concern for many medical practitioners as they have less concern for a patients' health.
- Though Medical science cures diseases it does not lay out ways to ensure the mental and spiritual growth of a person. It does not indicate steps to purge the thought process of a person. If the mental and spiritual worlds remain disturbed and incompatible no amount of medications would be beneficial
Advantages of Medical Science
- Over the years medical science has revolutionised, courtesy - advancements in technology. The methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment, both medical and surgical, have developed like never before. Smallpox has been eradicated and tuberculosis is curable.
- Many of the heart diseases can be surgically treated. Immunologists and geneticists have succeeded in controlling many and curing many infectious and dreadful diseases.
- Prenatal diagnosis has allowed the early detection and correction of many morphological and skeletal abnormalities
- Laser surgery has enabled surgery without opening up the body.
- Organ transplantation has become a life giver to patients suffering from organ failures.
- Various ready-to-use diagnostic kits have been developed which can detect many diseases, in particular, parasitic diseases like malaria, hepatitis and others.
- Certain kits are useful for pregnancy detection and for checking the sensitive allergens, for measuring blood levels of various substances. Such kits enable the early diagnose of a disease.
- Forensic medicine is helping in identifying the cause of death by autopsy and is extremely helpful in solving crimes and murder mysteries.
- The man has become aware of the nutritious value of various items in his food. It has been proved through medical research that the conventional belief that a non-vegetarian diet is nutritious and beneficial as compared to a vegetarian diet is fallacious. A properly planned vegetarian diet is not only nutritious but also helps in reducing the risk of certain chronic health problems such as heart diseases, colon and breast cancer, diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
- It has also raised his awareness about his personal health which is achievable by moderate exercises which ensure physical fitness and longevity. Modern man has taken the road to good health, like never before.
- Researchers have concluded that cigarettes, drugs like cocaine, morphine, heroin etc., liquor, tobacco, and cigarette are all harmful to physical, mental and social well-being.
- Medical science lays great stress on personal and domestic hygiene Modern man takes special care in keeping himself and the surroundings immaculately clean.
- Specialisations are certain fields of medicine as created specialists like ophthalmic, cardiologist, dentist, psychiatrist, orthopedist, nephrologists, etc. who treat specific ailments in modern man.
- Healthy living habits boost confidence and secure social and financial status for a person.
