Clinical practice guidelines and risk management: a medicolegal perspective

Abstract

Clinical guidelines are systematically developed statements created to assist clinicians in making decisions about the treatment and management of specific conditions. They are linked to the medical evidence base and aim to reduce unnecessary variations in treatment processes, thereby maintaining consistently high quality clinical care. Healthcare risk management is concerned with preventing harm to patients and this goal can be facilitated by clinical guidelines which enhance the quality of care. This paper explores the relationship between clinical guidelines and risk management from a medicolegal perspective.