title: Clinical practice guidelines: quality improvement tools versus legal norms.
abstract: The role of clinical guidelines in malpractice litigation has been controversial. The primary purpose of guidelines as a quality improvement tool must be sustained, and applications of guidelines beyond this purpose must be done carefully, with full recognition of inherent limitations.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0624, USA.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Billi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States