Medical professionalism in the new millennium: A physician charter 15 months later

Annals and The Lancet published the Charter on Medical Professionalism 15 months ago. This paper describes the rationale for the charter, provides an update on what has happened since initial publication, and outlines future activities to promote the charter. The interested reader will find additional commentary and response in this issue in the Letters section and in the editorial by Reiser and Banner.