Honesty is a virtue expected of us and professionalism demands that we work with integrity. A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune to attend a charity event in aid of the John King Brain Tumour Foundation, set up to support the Atkinson Morley Wing of St George's Hospital. We were entertained by an unlikely double act between retired champion jockey John Francombe and retired neurosurgeon, Henry Marsh. Henry Marsh gave an entertaining account of his career and an honest account of some clinical cases. These illustrated, not least, the benefits of reviewing mistakes and learning from them. The potential for harm in neurosurgery is clear and obvious, but general practice also carries risks of harm that we are encouraged to acknowledge and review. They may not be accompanied by the drama of neurosurgical risk, but they are there and worthy of consideration for learning and improving. When, as last week, we welcome new trainees to the practice, attention is given to the merits and characteristics of a safe learning environment. In no small way honesty is at the heart of learning for all of us. The facilitation of honest expressions of difficulty, doubt, ignorance and fallibility is integral to a safe learning environment.
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