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Vesalius, Paré and Harvey made great contributions to medical knowledge. There were several reasons why they were able to carry out their work without hindrance.

• The church was less influential. Scientists were able to adopt a more scientific approach which involved experimentation, observation and recording results.
• They took advantage of the printing press to spread ideas. Harvey had his book published during the annual book fair in Frankfurt in Germany, knowing that people from all over Europe would be present.
• They had the support of influential people. Paré teated four kings of France, and Harvey was physician to two English kings. Vesalius had the support of the authorities in Padua

However, though progress had been made, there were still obstacles.

• Many doctors refused to accept the new knowledge and stuck with Galen and traditional treatments.
• Paré was looked down upon because he was only a barber surgeon, not a university-trained doctor, and because he wrote his books in French and not Latin.
• Some patients were also resistant to new ideas. Harvey told a friend that he lost many patients after 1628 because of his crack-pot ideas.

Though medical knowledge had moved forward, the impact on everyday health was limited. Knowledge of anatomy had improved, but surgery remained risky and patients died if ligatures were not clean.

Doctors had a much better knowledge of the heart and circulatory system, but it was not until the 1890s that surgeons first operated to repair a damaged heart.