Professionalism in medicine: are we closer to unifying principles?

The enhancement of professionalism in surgery and medicine is an important goal for all healthcare providers, both at the individual level of the physician and at the large-scale level of the healthcare system. Recently, much has been written about the challenges in implementing the concept of professionalism within healthcare delivery. The dilemma of ensuring a uniform commitment to professional behavior from all physicians has gained particular attention. In a unique approach, Lucey and Souba advocate for addressing the problem of lapses in professionalism as a form of medical error. This perspective may provide a fresh outlook on the problem.