title: The legal implications of clinical practice guidelines.
abstract: In the past several years, considerable attention has been focused on clinical practice guidelines. They are developed to foster improved clinical care and to increase clinical efficiency. The legal implications of developing and following guidelines are not yet clear. The author argues that properly formulated guidelines could reduce the burdens of preventing and resolving malpractice claims.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9470, USA.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Keyes
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004526:Efficiency; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D007879:Legislation, Dental; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States