[Intuition in medicine and surgery. Prerequisites and limits]

Intuition as a philosophical category is commonly acknowledged, but certainly not undisputed. In medicine being a practical science and partly characterized by irrational decisions, intuitive thinking in diagnosis and therapy seems to be an essential part of successful medical activity. Preconditions for an intuitive comprehension of the patient in its whole as well as an unusual process in clinical life are know-how, experience and profound knowledge of the normal and pathological findings. Besides, the physician's and surgeon's moral integrity setting limits to the acceptance of intuition has to be rated as an aid to decision-making. Increase of technics, standards and rules narrow the intuitive scope in a high degree. Loss of intuition as a tool of medical thinking and acting may lead to a spiritual impoverishment of our profession and to a technocratic medicine.