[Medical guidelines: the legal implications].

The author discusses the legal implications of medical guidelines. If treatment differs from such guidelines and the results for the patient are negative, the physician will come under considerable pressure to explain why the treatment was correct lege artis, deviation from guidelines notwithstanding. Sense or nonsense of guidelines is a matter to be discussed among the medical profession. However, if guidelines should attempt to limit or lower the quality of care for financial reasons, we are faced with the issue of priorities in a world where resources are limited. This is a legal issue which society as a whole has to decide; it is not a matter to be left to medical experts.