Who is recognized as the "Father of Medicine"?

Hippocrates is widely recognized as the "Father of Medicine" due to his significant contributions to the practice of medicine and the establishment of principles that define the profession today. He is credited with shifting the focus of medical practice from a framework dominated by superstition and mysticism to one based on observation and a systematic understanding of the human body.

Hippocrates is also known for the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of texts that include medical theories, ethical standards, and documents that medical practitioners still reference. His ethical standards, particularly the Hippocratic Oath, remain foundational in medical ethics today, emphasizing the importance of patient care, confidentiality, and the practice of medicine without malice.

The other figures mentioned, while also influential in their respective times and fields, do not hold the same title. Galen contributed significant anatomical knowledge and medical understanding during the Roman era, Avicenna was a Persian physician and philosopher known for his works in the Islamic Golden Age, and Paracelsus is noted for his advances in chemistry and the use of minerals in medicine during the Renaissance. However, none of these individuals embody the foundational concepts of medicine and ethics as closely associated with Hippocrates.