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Practice guidelines and liability implications.
1LSU Medical Center, Shreveport, USA.
Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Practice guidelines may cause more harm than good. If essential, they must prioritize patient care and consider potential negative impacts.
Area of Science:
- Medical Practice
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Practice guidelines are increasingly prevalent in healthcare.
- Concerns exist regarding their potential negative consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the role and impact of practice guidelines.
- To advocate for a cautious approach to guideline development and implementation.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of existing literature on practice guidelines.
- Discussion of potential harms versus benefits.
Main Results:
- Practice guidelines carry a significant potential for harm.
- Their benefits are often outweighed by risks if not carefully constructed.
Conclusions:
- Authors express skepticism about the overall utility of practice guidelines.
- If implemented, guidelines must be developed with a primary focus on patient advocacy and risk mitigation.