Which doctor is responsible for what? The specialist titles of the doctors' fields of work are often not clear to everyone.

Here is an overview of the most important specialists and their tasks.

General practitioner

A general practitioner is my family doctor. You should go to them first if you have a health problem. The GP will refer the patient to the relevant specialist if the problem goes beyond their area of specialisation.

Anaesthetist

An anaesthetist treats patients in the intensive care unit and administers anaesthesia.

Surgeon

The surgeon operates on the patient. A distinction is made between specialised surgeons such as heart surgeons, neurosurgeons (nerves) or visceral surgeons (abdomen).

Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a skin doctor. He treats all skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis or moles.

Gastroenterologist

The gastroenterologist's area of specialisation is the digestive tract. He treats infections or tumours in the stomach or intestines.

Geriatrician

The geriatrician is a specialist for older people. He works in close co-operation with other specialists.

Gynaecologist

The gynaecologist or gynaecologist treats and examines the female sexual organs and looks after women during pregnancy.

ENT

An ear, nose and throat specialist specialises in the upper respiratory tract. He treats infections of the nose, oral cavity, throat and ears.

Internist

An internist is responsible for internal organs. Their tasks include, for example, metabolism (endocrinology), the lungs (pneumology) and the kidneys (nephrology). Internists are often also family doctors.

Cardiologist

The cardiologist treats cardiovascular diseases.

Neurologist

A neurologist treats nerve diseases such as Parkinson's, dementia or balance disorders.

Oncologist

An oncologist treats malignant tumours.

Ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist is an eye specialist who deals with functional disorders of the optic nerve and the eyes.

Orthopaedist

The orthopaedist looks after the musculoskeletal system. He treats bone, joint and muscle wear and tear.

Paediatrician

The paediatrician is a paediatrician. He looks after babies and children, treats typical childhood illnesses and treats developmental disorders.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist treats mental illnesses. They look after people with depression, schizophrenia, anxiety or addictions.