Family Practice and Credibility

To the Eitor: Dr. Julian Keith, in his Sounding Board (N Engl J Med 297:1007–1008, 1977), has made statements that, if not put into proper perspective, may be harmful to the continued developrm of the specialty of family practice.Dr. Keith has accurately traced the need for family practice and its acceptance by the public and government, but speaks from a very parochial stance on national issues. For example, he refers to the provisionally approved programs that "do not now meet, and never can meet, the essentials...." In its Structure and Functions Manual, the Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical . . .