[To use the stethoscope correctly is not easy. The intricate art of auscultation should receive more attention in medical education].

Although the stethoscope is used daily by almost every physician, the full potential of the art of stethoscopy is seldom tapped. It has been replaced by newer and more costly techniques. In the article it is argued that more time in medical education should be allocated to stethoscopy, so that it can be used in selecting patients who will benefit most from examination with modern diagnostic tools. The medical technological background of stethoscopy is also reviewed, as are the reasons why it is difficult to give sound advice on the choice of stethoscope.