The role of the family physician in hospital part 3: obstetrics.

This is the third paper in a series of four on the part played by the family physician in a general hospital.Of 88 family physicians on active staff at St.Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, 56 did deliveries. Most of those practicing obstetrics did most of their own deliveries. As the procedures became more difficult, fewer doctors performed them. Most of the members were involved with routine prenatal care, and some with high risk prenatal care. The resons for not doing obstetrics varied, but obstetrics till seem to be a very important part of the family physician's activity within the hospital.