[Perspectives] The art of the emergency

The practice of emergency medicine relies on clinical judgement, informed by knowledge of medical evidence and guidelines, and acute decision making in high-stakes situations. Emergency physicians must sometimes work with limited information, unable to wait for confirmatory tests before acting. In these moments, the art of emergency medicine partly lies in trusting clinical judgement, using knowledge, experience, and clinical intuition honed over years of practice. The concept of phronesis, or practical wisdom, as defined by Aristotle, is deeply embedded in emergency medicine.