ABSTRACT
When family problems were brought to a general practitioner all members of the family might be involved. Once this mother and son started to understand each other better, they were able to take practical measures about the son's work and other social problems. This trap is subtle, especially in general practice where patients may 'ask for advice' from their doctor about family problems. Problems arising from terminal illness and the repercussions of bereavement inevitably occur in general practice. The kind of relationship the client had had with the deceased sometimes needed to be understood in order to assist with the problems of bereavement. It was appropriate when families involved their general practitioner in their social problems, for members of some families who would agree to meet a social worker in their general practice would not go to a social work agency until they had tested a social worker's help.
