Use of Language in Clinical Practice Guidelines

摘要

The publication, developed by The George Washington University Center for Health Policy Research under contract to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, is intended as a resource to assist drafters of clinical practice guidelines to express themselves with clarity and precision. Since guidelines affect not only clinical practice, but also may be used in litigation in determining appropriate standards of clinical care, the document is intended to alert drafters to the significance of wording used, so that guidelines accurately reflect the best available medical judgment through accurate and thorough analyses of the scientific evidence and expert opinion. The relationship between clinical practice guidelines and the law, the significance of wording used, classification of scientific evidence and opinion, drafting hazards, editing techniques, and how courts interpret language, are discussed. The publication, however, is not intended as legal advice.