Professionalism is a complex and ill-defined concept and the impending Report of the Public Inquiry into the paediatric 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 health authorities in New South Wales and Victoria, and the High Court of Australia. He also provides an implicit definition of professionalism that encompasses the collection and use of personal performance data for individual health care providers and organisations.