PEDIATRICS Vol. 90 No. 5 November 1992, pp. 779
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`Guidelines' Versus the Legal Standard of Care and Screening for Polycythemia

DAVID REYNOLDS MD1

1 2006 Brookwood Medical Center Drive, Suite 414 Women's Medical Plaza, Birmingham, AL 35209

To the Editor.—

Belated thanks to the Academy for acknowledging the fact that almost nothing in medicine is certain. Beginning in June 1991, all committee reports are accompanied by a paragraph recognizing that alternative management strategies may be appropriate and that the opinions expressed do not constitute standards of medical care.

The first part of this qualification accepts the fact that each clinical encounter is unique. Decision making based on an attitude of patient uniformity demeans the human nature of the patient and his or her family as well as the physician.