The family as a social unit

Family medicine, in common with most other medical specialties, is passing through a period of lively debate concerning its course and development. This paper discusses that portion of the debate attempting to define the function of the family physician in overseeing the comprehensive and continuing health care of patients and their families. One consequence of such a definition is the need to understand thoroughly the family in its functional role as a social unit. This knowledge of the family unit will affect some aspects of the practice of family medicine. Some of our approaches to training practitioners in this challenging field are outlined.