title: The Cardiothoracic Society (Pete's Club) 1959 to 1989.
abstract: Pete's Club was founded in 1959 by a group of young thoracic surgeons from the United Kingdom at a time when new operative techniques for the surgery of the lung and the oesophagus, together with the feasibility of open-heart surgery following the development of the artificial heart-lung machine, allowed a rapid expansion of this branch of surgery. Unrecognised problems were frequently encountered and therefore the constitution of the Club declared that the scientific business should be the discussion of mistakes and errors of judgement. No member was allowed to report a case which reflected credit on himself. In 1969 members were elected from the European continent and in 1981/1982 from Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. The development of the Club is described, together with an assessment of its contribution to the present day safety of cardio-thoracic surgery.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Milstein
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D006113:United Kingdom