The theme editor introduces a special issue exploring the practice of family medicine.

Physicians who encounter a patient who is suffering from depression may find it necessary to breach confidentiality and patient autonomy in order to act in the best interest of the patient.

Three proposals for the restructuring of the continuing medical education process are presented.

US case law protects a woman's right to refuse life-sustaining medical treatment for her fetus on religious grounds.

Physicians need to carefully explain the difficult medical realities of carrying a fetus with severe congenital abnormalities to term but then follow the wishes of a religious family who ask for reasonable medical care.

Physicians need to understand their roles and limitations of their own faith in providing end-of-life care.

Physicians face a conflict between desiring to cure a patient of his or her psychiatric illness and recognizing that the cure will take away from the patient's purpose in life.

Physicians face ethical dilemmas when patients request medical help in pursuing behavior the physician believes is immoral.

Physicians need to understand that a patient's faith shapes his or her understanding of illness and know how to respond when the patient attempts to evangelize during the clinical encounter.

Physicians should use a practice tool to make a culturally sensitive spiritual assessment in order to address the spiritual needs of patients.