Traditional goals of medicine include which of the following?

• A. Saving life
• B. Curing disease
• C. Relieving suffering
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that medicine historically aims to protect life, heal illness, and ease pain. Saving life covers actions that prevent death and keep people alive when possible, from emergency resuscitation to managing life-threatening conditions. Curing disease means eliminating the underlying illness or resetting the body to a healthy state, such as removing a pathogen or treating a curable condition. Relieving suffering focuses on comfort and quality of life, including pain control and symptom management, often through palliative care. These aims are not mutually exclusive; good medical care often blends them to both extend life and improve its quality. Because each of these elements is a genuine traditional goal of medicine, the option that encompasses all of them is the best answer.