Doctors have a duty to the whole community

Editor,--The Oxcheck Researchers and the Family Heart Study Group doubt whether multifactorial risk ascertainment and counselling of whole populations are worth the effort.^{1 2} What, however, did they expect from a population approach? Optimistically these studies might lead to a reduction in mortality from ischaemic heart disease of 4-8%. This compares with an annual fall in mortality from this cause currently around 7%. Sustaining change with margins of 1-2% is made easier by realistic expectations. The lower than average risk in the study populations makes …