Developing the Esperanto of quality

Abstract

Professionalism is a complex and ill-defined concept and the impending Report of the Public Inquiry into thepaediatric cardiac surgery service at the Bristol Royal Infirmary continues to heighten debate on the subject.Bolsin offers examples of operational definitions from the Privy Council (United Kingdom), the state healthauthorities in New South Wales and Victoria, and the High Court of Australia. He also provides an implicitdefinition of professionalism that encompasses the collection and use of personal performance data forindividual health care providers and organisations.