Abstract
To the Editor.— The commentary, Whither the Specialty Boards? (235:1849, 1976), and the editorial by Stewart Wolf, MD (235:1883, 1976), deserves serious consideration by the governing bodies of the specialty boards. The initial reasons for the boards were very high-minded and rendered them effective in serving a great and useful purpose for medicine and our patients. However, presently the boards are no longer examining clinical acumen but, as stated in the cited references, are testing our ability to pass examinations, not our ability to care for patients. The real beneficiaries of the board examinations, and now recertification, and re-recertification, appear to be those organizing and giving the examinations. The last annual report of the American College of Physicians cited the Profit obtained from these examinations. In addition to this, federal agencies are beginning to use our board examinations and certifications for determining salary. When we all get our general staff
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