At it's core "modern medicine" is not actually a science. We've added a veneer of science, there's science at the edges, but at it's most basic form it remains an art from inception in the 19th century to today.
* Pharmaceuticals: science, mostly, but beware of "pseucutcals" like supplements and herbal remedies. Also beware of new ideas that cut into profits.
* Cutting-edge surgery: science
* Mental health: art, with a dose of science from big pharma
* General practice: mostly the art of laying on hands, distilled experience, a bit of research with your sales rep and whatever you took with you from medical school.
If this feels harsh, remember that, despite solid scientific evidence, it took over two decades for the conventional medical wisdom to move stomach ulcers from "caused by stress you need to relax" to "caused by helicobacter pylori we can treat it with a convenient antibiotic." Inertia is a helluva drug.
* Pharmaceuticals: science, mostly, but beware of "pseucutcals" like supplements and herbal remedies. Also beware of new ideas that cut into profits.
* Cutting-edge surgery: science
* Mental health: art, with a dose of science from big pharma
* General practice: mostly the art of laying on hands, distilled experience, a bit of research with your sales rep and whatever you took with you from medical school.
If this feels harsh, remember that, despite solid scientific evidence, it took over two decades for the conventional medical wisdom to move stomach ulcers from "caused by stress you need to relax" to "caused by helicobacter pylori we can treat it with a convenient antibiotic." Inertia is a helluva drug.