Cut Down Proliferation of Medical Specialty Certifications

Abstract

To the Editor.— The American Board of Medical Specialties, at its annual meeting on March 17, 1983, voted to authorize certification of qualification in diagnostic laboratory immunology. In addition, the American Board of Medical Specialists authorized the issuance of certificates of qualification in immunopathology to be issued by the American Board of Pathology. It seems that, suddenly, the laboratories of immunology have become a hot issue since so many boards (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, and Pathology) are interested in issuing certifications for special qualifications in laboratory immunology. It must be added that for the last few years, the American Board of Laboratory Immunology of the American Academy of Microbiology has been issuing certificates of special competence to both MDs and PhDs. One must obviously ask the following questions: What is the rationale for so many boards and certifications in one of the laboratory medicine fields? Do