One of the eXCltmg challenges of medicine has been the reaching of decisions based on less than complete evidence. As undergraduates in teaching hospitals future physicians are taught to think in clear and absolute black and white terms. Diagnoses in teaching hospitals all are based on supportive positive findings of in vestigations. Treatment follows logically on precise diagnosis. When patients die the causes of death are confirmed at autopsy. How very different is real life in clinical practice, and particularly in family medicine. By the very nature of the common conditions that present diagnoses tend to be imprecise and based on clinical assessment and interpretation. Much of the management and treatment of patients is based on opinions of individual physicians based on their personal expenences. Because of the relative professional isolation offamily physicians within their own practices, not unexpectedly divergent views and opinions are formed. There is nothing wrong in such divergencies because there are no clear absolute black and white decisions. General family practice functions in grey areas of medicine where it is possible and quite correct to hold polarized distinct opinions. The essence of good care must be eternal flexibility and readiness to change long-held cherished opinions. To demonstrate that with many issues in family medicine it is possible to have more than one view I selected 10 clinical and II non -clinical topics and invited colleagues and fellow-practitioners to enter into a debate-in-print.

While ethicists have directed much attention to controversial biomedical issues--including euthanasia, abortion, and genetic engineering--they have largely ignored the less obvious, but more pervasive, everyday ethical problems faced by family physicians. Ethical Issues in Family Medicine addresses these problems, offering an ethics that reflects the distinctive features of family practice, and helping family physicians to appreciate the extent to which ethical issues influence their practice.

Summary of Common Conditions in Family Medicine is an in-depth guide to diagnosing and managing the most prevalent conditions encountered in primary care. Authored by a seasoned family medicine physician, this book encapsulates years of clinical expertise. Covering everything from acute respiratory infections to chronic ailments such as diabetes and hypertension, each chapter delivers actionable insights underpinned by evidence-based practices. Crafted to be both practical and succinct, this reference is invaluable for medical students, residents, and established physicians. It empowers healthcare practitioners to adeptly handle common medical scenarios and deliver top-tier care. As a cornerstone of Family Medicine emphasizes an enduring, integrated patient-physician relationship, this book captures that essence. While it doesn’t encompass every topic in family medicine, the author believes that the included topics are vital and hopes they enrich your medical journey.

Now in its Fifth Edition, this respected reference helps readers tackle the common and often challenging ethical issues that affect patient care. The book begins with a concise discussion of clinical ethics that provides the background information essential to understanding key ethical issues. Readers then explore a wide range of real-world ethical dilemmas, each accompanied by expert guidance on salient issues and how to approach them. The book’s two-color design improves retention of material for visual learners. An accompanying website lets readers access the full text, along with features designed to reinforce understanding and test knowledge. New to the Fifth Edition: This edition includes new discussions of ethical issues as they relate to clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based medicine, electronic medical records, genetic testing, and opioid prescription. The book also includes an increased focus on ethical issues in ambulatory care. Readers will also find more detailed analysis of cases, more examples of ethical reasoning, more highlight pages relating clinical ethics to emergency medicine, oncology, palliative care, and family medicine. Also new are discussions of quality improvement and use of advance care planning rather than advance directives.

A staple of family medicine training for 30 years, Essentials of Family Medicine offers a comprehensive introduction to this specialty designed just for clerkship students. Covering principles of family medicine, preventive care, and a full range of common ambulatory care problems, it provides all the guidance you need to succeed on a clinical rotation in family medicine.

Fundamentals of Family Medicine, Third Edition, describes the current approach to common problems in family practice. The book tells how family physicians provide high-quality, comprehensive, and ongoing health care for patients and families, based on current evidence and time-tested methods in clinical practice. Clinical scenarios that include case studies and questions for group discussion reinforce the book's clinical topics. The clinical scenarios all concern members of the Nelson family- a multigenerational extended family whose members visit the family physician with a variety of health concerns and whose dynamics evolve from chapter to chapter. The discussion questions allow the group to consider both the biomedical and psychosocial aspects of problems such as headache, obstructive airway disease, diabetes mellitus, athletic injuries, domestic violence, care of the dying patient, and the family physicians's role in dealing with terrorist events. The book is intended to be a reference source for the care of diseases family physicians are likely to see and as the course textbook for medical students in family medicine clerkships in medical school. This book will help health professionals provide up-to-date care for their patients, and will allow students to view clinical issues through the eyes of the family physician. Fundamentals of Family Medicine, Third Edition, ideally is used as a companion to Family Medicine: Principles and Practice, Sixth Edition, edited by Robert B. Taylor et al.