Throughout Europe, General Practitioners and Family Doctors practice modern medicine and care for their patients. In family medicine and the other medical disciplines, decision-making process is generally supported by science that provides evidence comming from random controlled trials or observational studies.
Doctors apply this scientific knowledge in a rational manner during their everyday consultation with the patients. However, they also need to take into account psychological, social, ideological and even political factors.
They need to use their skills and judgments carefully to consider costs, patient values, prejudices and emotions that may influence their care. All these aspects make Family Medicine more an art than just a science.