Final answer:
Diagnosis is the identification of a disease or condition by examining signs and symptoms, essential for determining appropriate treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term diagnosis refers to the process by which a medical professional determines the nature of a person's illness or condition. It involves analyzing the patient's signs and symptoms to identify the underlying cause of their ailment. The diagnosis is a critical step in the healthcare process, as it informs the appropriate course of treatment, which may include recommending specific drugs to rectify the disease. While signs and symptoms can provide valuable information, they are often not unique to a single condition, thus requiring further diagnostic methods for confirmation.