This is a doctor who treats a vast range of diseases although he/she may have expertise in a particular area, e.g. arthritis.
He or she is trained to diagnose and treat a variety of medical complaints. This can also include any of 26 medical specialisms such as cardiology or oncology (cancer).
He/she will undertake a range of procedures, for example biopsies, and order treatments which range from the prescription of drugs through to complex regimes such as bone marrow transplants.
A general physician does not perform surgery.
Here are a few examples of general physicians:
Each of these is discussed in an individual section.
Other specialties include:
A complete list of these can be found on the Royal College of Physicians website.