[Overspecialization in surgery].

Surgical specialization is a logical consequence of the evolution of medicine. On the other hand, overspecialization appears in a more perverse way; out of 39 specialist surgeons polled during the latest A.F.C. meeting, 22 think that overspecialization is not a good thing. This situation gives rise to several reflections: early specialization may lead to poor surgical training and some surgeons may be unable to change to a new specialty; overspecialization is an invitation to medical overconsumption; the "overall" patient management in regions with a poor medical infrastructure may be difficult; finally, the legal consequences are still unknown. Thus the changes brought about by surgical specialization and overspecialization require thinking about the nationwide distribution of health facilities and about our country's surgical policy.