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The paper analyses the literature on non-primary care specialty choice. The motives for studying medicine and influences on medical student career choice have been presented. The stability of this selection has also been examined. Several predictors of specialty choice such as: demographics, academic performance, income, social status and personality attributes have been identified. Moreover, the influence of prestige, intellectual content, ability to provide sophisticated technology on preferences of non-primary care specialty has been analyzed. Association between empathy and medical specialty choice has been evaluated. What is more, it is presented that internal medicine residents are more likely to be introverted, attentive, to have deeper intellectual curiosity, higher aspiration levels and to be interested in mental stimulations. Furthermore, the surgery residents are more likely to be interested in modern technology, prestige, higher income and to be assertive and extroversive. In addition, students attracted to gynecology like contact with (mostly healthy) patients and express strong believes on reproductive issues. Besides, psychiatry students seem to be sensitive, unstable and impulsive. The analyses of Polish students' attitudes to non-primary care specialties are also presented. There is a positive perception of non-primary care and hospital medicine specialties. The specialties are more attractive because of foreseeable higher income, prestige, opportunities for research and possibilities for mastering skills and knowledge.

This paper analyzes and synthesizes the literature on primary care specialty choice. Motivation for choosing medicine and its impact on recruitment to different types of medical work has been presented. Factors that influence medical students and young doctors to change specialty preference have also been explored. Variables, such as gender, martial status, age, income expectations and prestige, that affect medical students' specialty selection decisions for primary care, have been examined. Personality profiles of primary care physician have been evaluated and the influence of communication skills and knowledge of social psychology on his/her work have been analyzed. It is presented that other traits, such as patient-centeredness, needs to serve society and value orientation, is also associated with increases in numbers of students choosing primary care. The analyze shows that the preference for primary care is connected with being interested in diverse patients and health problems and also with being people-orientated. A survey conducted into Polish medical students' attitudes to primary care and family medicine is presented. There is a negative perception of family medicine among Polish students and doctors because of its long work hours and less time for family, insufficient diagnostic possibilities and monotony It is chosen because of lack of other possibilities, difficulties in employment and opportunity to become 'a specialist' in short time.

The paper presents general principles of rational cooperation of general practitioners and other specialists with nephrologist dedicate special attention concerning the slowing progression of renal failure and beneficts for patients as a result of early referral to nephrologist. The management of patients with chronic renal failure in the predialysis period and their preparation for renal replacement therapy was also described.

This paper is a work on the health conditions of the inhabitants of Rzeszów and the surrounding area in the second half of the 19th century as based on the mortality analysis. A comparison and contrast has been made between the daily work of a doctor nowadays and a hundred years ago. The issues have been presented at various levels, with reference to the political, socio-economic and cultural relations existing at that time. The work is enhanced with additional comments on the doctor's profession and the problem of diagnostic difficulties as well as the possibility of making a mistaken judgement. Additionally, the definition of death at that time and at present has been formulated. The issues of colleague solidarity, ethical and moral issues and the activities of the Doctors' Association over the above mentioned period are also discussed. I noted the "plague" of the time which was the provision of medical treatment by the unqualified. The above considerations may be a starting point for the present, popular discussion on the principles of a doctor's ethics and duty.

This paper describes some physicians who graduated from Poznań University and who were connected with medical care in Gdynia.