Guideline authors try to remedy this problem by making general recommendations, which can lead to imprecise use. This ambiguity could lead you to apply a guideline incorrectly. In the legal arena, guidelines can function as a double-edged sword. Although they can protect you from unfounded allegations of negligent care, they can also provide the foundation for a lawsuit. Almost all litigation about medical and nursing care is based on the argument that clinicians didn't meet standards of care in a specific situation.
Guidelines can provide the specifics for that argument.
Finally, third-party payers can use guidelines to refuse reimbursement. For example, scientific evidence may suggest that a treatment isn't clearly effective or that the treatment is too new to be supported by evidence. If the patient and physician still want to try the treatment, the physician may have to argue with the insurance company about its validity. Making them work Clinical practice guidelines aren't a panacea, but they can help optimize patient care and reduce costs. From Development to Use .