Call for submissions: debates

Canadian Family Physician’s debates

Canadian Family Physician (CFP) considers debates to be an excellent way to clarify various positions on subjects of a medical, ethical, or political nature by encouraging expression of different points of view. Presentation of positions that are often diametrically opposed allows readers to judge the value and the rigour of the arguments set out. Over the past 5 years, CFP has published debates on many controversial subjects, for example, “Is family medicine a specialty?”2 “Are inpatients’ needs better served by hospitalists than by their family doctors?”3 “Should family physicians treat themselves or not?”4 This month, CFP questions one of the dogmas of family medicine ( pages 740–1) in asking “Should a family physician be empathetic?” Lussier and Richard think yes, while Marchand has the opposite opinion. Debates such as these raise a multitude of comments, reactions, and discussions. Some academic settings even use these texts to explore underlying clinical or ethical issues.

Call for proposals

Despite the interest raised by these debates, they remain difficult to organize. Certain themes escape us, and it is sometimes very difficult to find authors willing to advocate for the unpopular side. As you can imagine, it is generally easier to find a champion who defends the opinion of the majority or who complies with the recommendations, than one who does not. Who, for example, would have the temerity to cast doubt on the virtues of the family medicine curriculum universally promoted by the directors of the Canadian program by questioning “Does the integrated curriculum produce the best family physicians?”5 Finding a protagonist who opposes the general tendency and who is willing to put it in writing is not always easy. But CFP thinks that dissidents should be given an opportunity to state their case. Hence, this request for submissions.

If you have a topic idea or if you would like to participate in a debate, have a look at the list of upcoming topics on CFPlus* and make your suggestions on Rapid Responses. Ideas for subjects of debates will be submitted to our Editorial Advisory Board. The reasons justifying your interest in this or that debate will be considered.

Potential authors are invited to peruse the information for authors on our website.6 The debates are structured in 2 parts presenting the arguments for and against. The authors must be convincing and the arguments succinct. The strength and logic of the arguments upon which the positions adopted by the protagonists rest will be evaluated. A bulleted list summing up the 3 main arguments should close the discussion. Each text should be no longer than 900 words, excluding the bulleted list and the references, and the number of references is limited to 10. The texts of the 2 sides of the argument will be translated and published side-by-side in both official languages. Authors will be allowed a 450-word rebuttal, which will be published as a Web exclusive article in the same issue. In the rebuttal, authors should identify precisely the elements of their opponents’ argument they wish to refute and present their counterarguments. Canadian Family Physician reserves the right to refuse both subjects and protagonists.

May the best argument win!