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The author proposes the system approach as a means of understanding and action for the family doctor. Different clinical situations are considered: the interview with the whole family, the interview with part of the family and the individual encounter. These examples show the utility of the system approach for the family doctor. The tools can also be used in individual consultation-the most common situation for the family doctor. In family medicine, the family is often identified as the 'patient'. Some believe that individual care should be given 'in the context of the family'. The author believes that the missing link between these two viewpoints is the use of the system approach in the individual encounter.