[The importance of guidelines in the area of malpractice procedure].
Generally available national guidelines are the only way to guarantee that the clinically active doctor will consider the same rules as the doctor as an expert within a malpractice procedure. Especially the following question has to be ruled out by national guidelines: From what time on is an innovation to be considered as "normal"--as "standard"? The same is true for continued expert discussions and for the "medical-economic balance". Without national guidelines recognized as well-known rules, the doctor accused in a malpractice procedure will find himself in an unacceptable position of legal uncertainity.
Medizinischer Dienst der Spitzenverbände der Krankenkassen, Essen. m.hansis@mds-ev.de
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D005858:Germany; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010820:Physicians