title: Overview: prospects and options for local and national guidelines in the courts.
abstract: Local adaptation of national guidelines appears to be widespread, but it is little examined in terms of its extent, appropriateness, and impact. But the worst situation for patient and practitioner would be when a good national guideline exists but a bad local guideline guides practice.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States