Compared to white males in the general population, rates of suicide for physicians are only slightly higher (39.4 per 100,000 compared to 35.7). Rates for female physicians are nearly 4 times that of the general female population. The author examines the causes of physician suicide, its incidence, epidemiology, psychodynamics, treatment of the suicide-proned, prevention, & postvention. U.S. suicide rates for this occupational group are compared to rates in Great Britain & Germany. 38 Ref. (NBB)