„Braucht es noch den Generalisten – oder können wir es uns leisten, ohne ihn auszukommen?“

For several years now, the question has been asked whether there is still any need for generalists in surgery. Those who still believe in generalists are often described as stuck in the past, because the only specialization is modern. There is no doubt that specialization is well underway and that patient care has certainly improved as a result. Nevertheless, the question remains whether providing care to the population across the board and in all situations for which we must be prepared is effective. If generalists are still needed then for what, for which situation, for which task and how must they be trained and educated? The following article addresses these questions and attempts to find an answer, supplemented by a brief look into the future.