Oil and water? Economic advantage and biomedical progress do not mix well in a government guidelines committee.

This article examines the results of the Joint National Committee's Fifth Report on the treatment of hypertension (JNC-V), especially regarding the economic arguments put forth therein. Economics are a poor basis for treatment decisions, as the cheapest therapies may not be the best for any given patient. Broad treatment guidelines based on economic motives will result in poorer patient care and less valuable medical research.