[Statistical methods in medicine: in instruction, consultancy and research (author's transl)].

This survey covers the use of statistical methods in three areas of medicine: (1) the obligatory instruction of students in statistics, (2) the statistical consulting of clinicians and their candidates for a doctor's degree and (3) the modification and creation of statistical methods by the statisticians in the departments of medical statistics and documentation. Moreover some factors are discussed that reduce the effectiveness of statistical consulting, may it be service, advisory work or collaboration. Other sections of this paper cover the calamity of utilization and evaluation of old clinical records, the avoidance of fallacies and of errors committed by the inappropriate and incorrect application of statistical methods in medicine. Supplementary questions are given as a "first help" in tackling problems in medicine.