It's usually said as a humorous observation, but I'm asking as a serious question: Why is what Dr's do called

Question

'practice'???

Answer 1

It's true it's often said in jest, but that's because we forgot that the very first, original meaning of "practice" (from Greek and then from Latin) is "to do" ("What does he do for a living?") and not "to practice" the way we normally think of it today (to practice the piano; the team will practice every day after school; etc.).

Answer 2

Health care is an ART (based on a limited amount of scientific information in western medicine). It is called 'practice' because it can never be perfected, only improved upon.

Answer 3

Noun 1. practice of medicine - the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied medicine at Harvard"
medicine
learned profession - one of the three professions traditionally believed to require advanced learning and high principles
preventive medicine - the branch of medicine concerned with preventing disease; "the medical establishment doesn't profit from preventive medicine"
alternative medicine - the practice of medicine without the use of drugs; may involve herbal medicines or self-awareness or biofeedback or acupuncture
complementary medicine - the practice of medicine that combines traditional medicine with alternative medicine
group practice - (medicine) the practice of medicine by a group of physicians who share their premises and other resources