The ideal doctor-patient relationship is a doctor-family relationship
(Chap. 9). If the doctor can deal with families instead of with individ-
uals only, the results will be rewarding to himself and to his patients.

The family is an institution. That means it is more stable and less
likely to burst under the pressure of sickness. Several people together
will have more flexibility and more resources with which to face the
problems of sickness, and being with others makes it easier for the
patient to make a good adjustment to illness and to achieve the speediest
possible recovery.

The value of the family is reflected in certain basic figures. Married
people have lower death rates than other people in every age group.
Married people are less often admitted to hospitals [ 1 ]. People with no
family or with a poorly knit family are hospitalized for longer periods.
People with families are more likely to be pushed into or have incentives
for recognizing their sickness. Family members can propel a reluctant
person into treatment. The family is a tremendous health safeguard,
and it is one of the most important resources which the physician has
at his disposal for the treatment of disease.

Janis found that support and affection from one's family was one of
the most important influences which gives the presurgical patient
strength for his ordeal [ 2 ]. Evidence of being loved is tremendously im-
portant as a help in recovery. For hospitalized patients, family visitors are
often exceedingly therapeutic (Chap. 10) [ 3 ].

The family is also a resource which protects the doctor's relationship
with individual family members. Other members in the family can help
the doctor achieve a good result, and they can supervise the patient to
make sure he follows the doctor's orders. The doctor can work with
family members to insure greater cooperation from an individual in
treatment. When that happens the doctor has enlisted the family in the

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