In February 1984 at the Quarterly Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor A. Guz from the Department of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, presented a paper with the above title. In this paper he raised a number of points regarding the role of liaison psychiatry and of the psychiatrists involved in practising it. The paper collated the views of himself and other professors of medicine, and obviously it is important that we as psychiatrists take note of the opinions expressed by people with such an extensive knowledge of medicine. Many of the points which Professor Guz raised I found myself to be in total agreement with; however, there were one or two issues which I think perhaps deserve a reply and I would like to attempt to do this through the Bulletin. As many of the Bulletin readers will know, there is an increasing interest in liaison psychiatry and this has been recognized by the College in the recent establishment of a special interest group. I should perhaps point out, however, that the views expressed in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of any other liaison psychiatrist, or of the special interest group.