With this background, the young physician begins his life as a practicing doctor of medicine. Whether he increases the Christian stature of his medical training, depends on the individual. What influences most people is their early religious training—early, because trends in moral and ethical behaviors develop even before adolescence.

Two other influences which will mold him are:

1. the kind of family life he has had (close knit and with love is the best)
2. the people he has met who have motivated him

A Christian! What constitutes being a Christian? One of the definitions is "one who lives in accordance with Christ's teachings; humane, charitable and kind. "Humane," says the dictionary, is to be "compassionate, tender, merciful and sympathetic."

The image of the old "family doctor" personified all these things. Although the role of the family doctor, as he was, has changed, there is still room and need for his finer qualities.

Some physicians by temperament or circumstance are not fitted for this role. By circumstance, I refer in part to a hospital setting. The increasing use of laboratory procedures, although a good thing diagnostically, often weakens the bond between hospital physician and patient. The hospital physician is often too busy and has too many responsibilities. A patient frequently deteriorates into being an interesting case, instead of a human being with a medical problem.

This is one of the things, which often makes hospital medicine so cold, although efficient. Primarily, ward patients are treated in this manner.

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