The modem concept of medical audit mandates comparison of care against preset explicit criteria. The format in which those criteria are framed plays crucial role in determining the types of deficiences liable to be uncovered. Formats describing care as “consistent with” acceptable practice do not reveal meaningful information, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals' emphasis on “outcome” to the exclusion of “process” is also unacceptable. A detailed format for disease-specific criteria is described; it may not be feasible for widespread use.