Liability in relation to the use of professional medical guidelines.

The author discusses the concept of professional guidelines in medicine and their relationship to potential malpractice accusations. He cites a case of omission to give a patient prophylactic medicine against post-operative thrombosis, as previously recommended in a clinical guideline. This paper develops the discussion of the problems of professional autonomy in the light of standards of medical care being increasingly governed by clinical guidelines. The question of legal liability of medical practitioners in these situations is explored.