The case for and against subspecialization in family medicine

Abstract

[Excerpt] Family doctors take pride in delivering a broad range of services to varied populations; however there are challenges to this strongly held view. Robert Heinlen argued in favour of generalism, saying that that a competent person should be able to (among other skills) “change a diaper, balance accounts, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, and analyze a new problem”. His punch line is that: “Specialization is for insects.”1 Heinlen’s list could well apply to some of the skills we need daily in family practice [...]