[The role of the family physician]

The general practitioner is the best person to take care of medical care of adults in the family, while the paediatrician looks after the children. The author speaks about the main aspects of family practice, the help of family members when coping with sickness of one of the members, the domiciliary care of patients, primary basic prevention in the family, help with family problems, advice and support of the family in relation to the social and aecological environment, assistance in case of death, losses and grief. Finally the author pays attention to talks with the family in general practice incl. their indications.