Whatever happened br To the family physician? br br br His genial compassionate br Demeanour had a placebo effect, br And you felt at ease br In his presence. br You were half cured br By his kind words. br He could diagnose br By studying your pulse. br He really had the br Touch of a magician. br br Now there is br A specialist for every part br Of your anatomy. br When unwell br You go to see him. br Without looking you br In the eye, br He will ask you br What brings you by? br br br In a tone br Devoid of emotion, br Says we’ll investigate br And do some tests. br When you are done br And armed with a file br Go back and wait for your turn. br Feeling tense and fragile. br br After going through your file, br He looks at you with disdain in his eyes. br Everything is fine, br It’s just in your mind. br And scribbles br A prescription in his illegible hand br For sedatives, br And advice to make life style changes. br Exasperated br You look for alternatives. br br I suspect even if they have a clue, br It’s a simple case of flu, br They send you for tests br As they get handsome cuts from labs. br br Oh where, oh where br Is the family physician, br He didn’t send you br For invasive tests, br And several opinions br He really had br The touch of a magician.