The Historical Narrative: Tales of Professionalism?

The historical narrative is a story told to illustrate a point, however subconsciously. The “giants” of obstetric anesthesia—Simpson, Snow, Apgar—and countless other less well-known physicians all contributed to the history of obstetric anesthesia. We remember them by retelling this history to illustrate elements of professionalism and how we as a profession wish to act. The Physician Charter is an excellent first approximation of a workable definition of this quality, which can and does change over time. By using the three principles and 10 professional responsibilities as a template, the past comes alive as a teaching method to each and every obstetric anesthesiologist.