A
medical guideline (also called a
clinical guideline,
clinical protocol or
clinical practice guideline) is a document with the aim of guiding decisions and criteria regarding diagnosis, management, and treatment in specific areas of
healthcare. Such documents have been in use for thousands of years during the entire
history of medicine. However, in contrast to previous approaches, which were often based on tradition or authority, modern medical guidelines are based on an examination of current evidence within the paradigm of
evidence-based medicine. They usually include summarized
consensus statements on best practice in
healthcare. A healthcare provider is obliged to know the medical guidelines of his or her profession, and has to decide whether or not to follow the recommendations of a guideline for an individual treatment.