Well-Child Visits

Abstract

Sir .—I was greatly disturbed to read the article Well-Child Visits Revisited by Dr Hoekelman (Journal1983;137:17-20), which should have been entitled A Death Wish for Pediatrics as a Specialty. Whether we need more or fewer well-child visits is not what will be pounced on by reviewers of medical journals; the issue is whether it would seem that there is or no value to what most pediatricians are doing most of the time. The philosophy of less is better reminds me of the old vaudeville act that reduced the ten-word telegram to no telegram at all by showing that most of the words were unnecessary—and look what has happend to Western Union! I am then reminded of a conference that took place during my residency at which academicians discussed what we practicing pediatricians should carry in our little black bags. In the course of the conference, items were flung