Professionalism as a perfusion problem.

Abstract

Perfusion has existed as a vocation for 50 years and has been officially recognized as an allied health profession since 1976. As a profession, perfusion holds a social contract within society defined in part by its Code of Ethics. There is very little that has been written to explore whether perfusion is a profession in the sense of a "learned profession" or if perfusionists function as professionals. This article provides evidence that perfusion is a profession in the classic interpretation and that the practitioners of this profession are professionals in the global sense. As is true in all professions, individuals have free will to conduct their behaviors in a professional manner or not. There are challenges to the professional status of perfusion on several levels, some of which we will discuss, and offer possible solutions. It takes an effort on the part of a profession to gather, maintain, and increase their professionalism. The profession of perfusion is not exempt from this and is discussed in that light.