A discussion of the ethics of clinical guidelines

Clinical guidelines are an increasingly common part of medical practice. The desire to standardize practices may seem a noble one, but overzealous application can make guidelines seem restrictive, leading to resentment or, worse, disregard. This conception of guidelines as unbreakable rules can lead to comparisons with deontological duties. Or where guidelines restrict access to services, utilitarianism might seem a better fit. Here, clinical practice guidelines are examined in terms of these theories of normative ethics, and it is argued that in fact, the process of writing and implementing guidelines is more accurately modelled through the lens of virtue ethics.