Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Cardiothoracic Society, a travelling thoracic surgical club, was formed in 1959. The first chairman was Peter Jones, and the Society became known colloquially as 'Pete's Club'. The Society began with 15 members who would meet twice a year. The Society's purpose was to informally discuss mistakes or errors of judgement regarding cardiothoracic surgery to improve best practice. The one rule was 'no member should report any case which reflects credit upon himself.' By 1969 European surgeons were invited to become members. The first European visit of the Society was made to Paris, in 1975. The meetings included a presentation of surgical operations, a scientific meeting and a social event. The Society became more global by accepting members from Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand, in 1980-1981. In 1989 the Society decided that it no longer has a useful purpose, as fewer mistakes and errors were being reported. The final meeting took place in 1989 in Vancouver.