(Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, 2017) De Roubaix, Malcolm
Anaesthesiologists are well trained and equipped to practise a high standard of care and contribute significantly to positive
perioperative outcomes. Professionalism is characterised first by expertise in the clinical skills, capabilities, knowledge and
experience internal to the practice of anaesthesiology (or a sub-specialty), and the knowledge, understanding and practice of
the professional duties associated with anaesthesiology. Relatively recently it has been realised that more than good training and
clinical expertise are required if anaesthesiologists want to practise as true professionals. This requirement relates to personal
behaviour and attitudes that can loosely be labelled as moral attributes. The article argues that these moral attributes may best
be understood with reference to Aristotle’s notion of virtue ethics—the idea that character and virtue are important in ethics.
Though this is the central theme of the article, a more comprehensive picture is provided of what it means to be a professional.