La evaluación negativa en formación sanitaria especializada, ¿una quimera?

The evaluation of the resident is a moral act, since its ultimate goal is to guarantee citizens a competent, safe and reliable professional, it is a process whose guiding principle is professional ethics. The tutor plays a key role in the resident evaluation process; it is especially important when this evaluation is negative, since the safety of the patients may be in danger. In this article we review the standard that regulates the evaluation of internal resident specialists in Spain, the importance of the participation of different teaching figures and institutions. We discuss the evaluation process, its importance and the methods that can be used, especially the tutor-resident interviews. We insist on the importance of the written record of all these activities, and we highlight the difficulties that we may encounter in the evaluation process of our residents.