The ethics of family medicine : a Dutch perspective

Abstract

In my contribution I shall approach my subject both philosophically and medically. I shall orient myself to the problematic nature of family medicine more than ethics. The term ethics of family medicine suggests the existence of a specific field, called family medicine, and the presence of a set of values, norms, rules and guidelines, that in their totality are the 'ethics' of that specific entity called family medicine. Family medicine as a form of medicine, usually practised near where potential patients live in their natural habitat, that is distinguished from other types of medicine, such as specialist medicine, as practised in institutions such as hospitals. Sociologically there are major differences between the structure and function of family medicine and medicine practised in institutions.