Quaternary prevention: a task of the general practitioner.

Quaternary prevention – an (increasingly) important theme in family medicine “Prevention is better than cure”. This principle is undisputed. New knowledge points to the fact that prevention can also do harm. Under the concept “quaternary prevention” efforts are currently focused on finding the right measure of preventive care, true to the old medical tenet “primum non nocere”. The Editors of PrimaryCare have pleasure in joining this trailblazing new discussion via the article of Thomas Kuehlein et al., which in its present form is based on Marc Jamoulle’s workshop “About quaternary prevention” at the European Wonca Congress 2009 in Basel. We publish it unabridged. The contribution appeared in several languages, and can be found in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Croatian at www.primary-care.ch