Family medicine in decline?
===========================

* Paul Bonisteel

The unfortunate title of Walter Rosser's otherwise excellent commentary1 perpetuates a negative view of family medicine as a career choice. It is far more important to recognize the opportunity that stems from the crisis in family medicine than to focus on the crisis itself. Canadians are already busy “reforming” a health care system that has been the envy of many other countries. If there is any doubt, one has only to read Barbara Starfield's commentary,2 which emphasizes the strength of primary care in providing better population health at a lower cost. Canadian-trained family physicians are the “platinum standard” world wide. Never has there been a better time to enter family medicine. This is the real message we need to get out to our trainees. 

**Paul Bonisteel** Trinity–Conception Regional Health Board Carbonear, Nfld. 

## References

1.  1. Rosser WW. The decline of family medicine as a career choice [editorial]. CMAJ 2002;166(11): 1419-20.
    
    [FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMToiMTY2LzExLzE0MTkiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyMjoiL2NtYWovMTY3LzgvODQ1LjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9) 

2.  2. Starfield B. Equity in health [editorial]. CMAJ 2000; 162(3):346.
    
    [FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czo5OiIxNjIvMy8zNDYiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyMjoiL2NtYWovMTY3LzgvODQ1LjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9)