According to Bates, how many generations of family history are recommended?

• A. 2 generations
• B. 3 generations
• C. 4 generations
• D. 1 generation

Answer: (B)

Gathering family history across three generations provides enough information to detect patterns of hereditary risk without overburdening the interview. By asking about the patient’s parents and grandparents (and noting the health status, ages at onset, and causes of death for relatives), you can identify inheritance patterns that influence risk assessment, screening, and preventive decisions. This scope catches conditions that run in families across generations, such as early-onset illnesses or cancer syndromes, and helps distinguish common, non-hereditary conditions from those that require further evaluation or genetic counseling.

Two generations might miss patterns that only appear when you look further back, while four generations often adds detail that isn’t routinely needed in a standard history and can be time-consuming. Therefore, three generations strikes a practical balance for most clinical encounters.