I was interested to read the “Code of professionalism”1 in the April issue of the journal. I see no mention of continuity of care, itinerant surgery or itinerant patients. As such, I think the document is inadequate. I am not sure why the Canadian Association of General Surgeons should require a document separate and distinct from the “Code of Ethics” published by the Canadian Medical Association.2 Perhaps that document needs to be reworked to include timely issues of technology and research.
Finally, I think that our professionalism is more serious than a game of cards. I agree that “doing right by the patient will always trump the business or pecuniary interest of the surgeon.” I am not sure the language is appropriate to the document.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Christian F, Pitt DF, Bond J, et al.; Committee on Professionalism, Canadian Association of General Surgeons. Professionalism — connecting the past and the present and a blueprint for the Canadian Association of General Surgeons. Can J Surg 2008;51:88-91. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 2.Canadian Medical Association. CMA Code of Ethics (Update 2004). Ottawa: The Association; 2004. Available: http://policybase.cma.ca/PolicyPDF/PD04-06.pdf (acc essed 2008 May 27).