Patient protocols: commissioning, design and use

The author begins by considering existing definitions of 'protocol' and related terms and later develops this into a discussion of how they work. Among other things, we learn from this article that methods of designing protocols have a significant influence on their implementation, creating a problem for organizations attempting to introduce protocols to promote uniform treatment. While the advantages and disadvantages of protocols are summarized, such a summary is to some extent unrevealing. It has to be appreciated that medicine is practised by social groups governed by informal arrangements which protocols may disturb. Furthermore, by making medical procedures explicit protocols may open up social and moral problems which have previously been concealed.