Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Empirical treatment
Introduction
Empirical treatment is a medical treatment derived from observation or survey.
In the medical profession, the term is also used when treatment is started before a diagnosis is confirmed (example: antibiotics) The most common reason is that investigations need to be done in order to confirm the diagnosis which take a long time or are delayed, and a delay in treatment can harm the patient.