Dear Dr. Roach: In your response to "R.J." in your column "In exams, doctors seem to have lost their touch," you missed an opportunity to educate the writer on the role of the physical examination.

DEAR ABBY: I am a man in my 50s. A few months ago, I had a routine doctor’s appointment, with a new primary care physician. I intended the appointment to be a complete, regular physical. I don’t ...

Not every visit to a doctor requires a physical examination. A follow -up consultation to discuss the results of investigations is a case in point; similarly, a counselling session for a patient with ...

A routine physical examination ensures that you stay in good health. A physical can also be a preventive step. It allows you to catch up on vaccinations or detect a serious condition, like cancer or ...