The relief of pain and suffering is surely the most ancient of duties of a doctor and a traditional goal of medicine. Sadly all over the world, modern medicine have not adequately met this goal. For various reasons there are inadequacies in the education and practise of pain relief. Palliative care medicine is an emerging area of great importance which is as yet generally not well understood. Mental health causes suffering, and not all are the result of disease or have a biological basis.
Mental health causes as much suffering as physical conditions.
We also need to understand the suffering as a result of violence or broken human relationships. While we need to be caring and compassionate, even medicine has its limits, and not all of life can be managed or influenced by it. The third goal is, the care and cure of those with disease and disabilities, and the care of those who cannot be cured. People with illnesses and disabilities seek more than a cure. They want to be cared for, with empathy and understanding.