Standards of Care: An Ethical Examination
Cookbook care is a phrase often used to describe the mechanistic application of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) or one of its close relatives, evidence-based medicine (EBM). Though distinct concepts, both fall under the general rubric of "medical standards of care." The frustration takes at least 2 forms: first, frustration that EBM and CPGs take away the "art of medicine," reducing health care professionals to automated decision makers; and second, frustration that, in some cases, the evidence and guidelines simply do not apply to his or her particular situation.