Abstract

Learning to obtain a traditional medical history is regarded as rite of passage for an aspiring doctor. These days it appears to be one of many items on a checklist. However, taking a medical history is one process that should not be relegated to such an approach. The medical history provides the diagnostic clue/s in the vast majority of ailments. The need to absorb the finer points and need for individual customization requires one to dwell, ponder and absorb this process. Taking a medical history from an individual simulating an illness may be helpful, but it is a poor substitute for real-world contact with patients. In general, the major components of the medical history are introduced appropriately to our medical students. It is time, opportunity and supervision to build on these initial components of the medical history based on real world experience that have perhaps become marginalized. The demise of formal clinical examinations during the training process likely contributes to this phenomenon.