Response

I wrote the June editorial in Canadian Family Physician, “Family medicine is not a business,”¹ because it is my role as a writer and journal editor to bring in ideas, discuss topics relevant to family medicine, and offer opinions, even if they are controversial or unpopular.

I love family medicine. It is an amazing profession. Family medicine has shaped my life and has given me so much. I never would have thought that the “p’tit-gars-de-St-Stan-que-je-suis” could one day become a doctor and be one for his entire life.

The editorial was strongly worded and accusatory. I am sorry if, in the process, I have harmed or hurt some of my colleagues who are devoted to their practices and to our profession. That was not my intention. I simply thought that it was necessary to challenge us. I dared to speak about difficult subjects that are almost taboo.

I wrote “Family medicine is not a business” because I love my profession and I have dedicated my life to caring for my patients and community. It is an extraordinary, unique profession and I hope that it will stay that way. I strongly believe that it is so much more than just a business.

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