[Guideline on responsible teamwork: don't let it become a manacle].

The recently published guideline entitled 'Division of responsibility in teamwork within the care sector' was developed on the request of the Dutch Health Care Inspectorate. Its aim is to ensure that in a teamwork situation in the care sector proper agreements are made concerning the responsibilities of the care providers who work together. The intention is good, but the execution is open to criticism. For instance, there is mention of 'teamwork' as soon as more than one caregiver is involved in caring for a patient. The document does not reflect everyday practice, but an abstracted theoretical situation, in which the patient, nurse and doctor are indicated using terms such as 'subject expert', 'client', 'care professional' and 'contact'. The document emphasizes responsibilities strongly, but the quality of health care could perhaps be better served by the motivation of caregivers to provide the best possible care.