The Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the
European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
European Heart Journal (2010) 31, 2369–2429
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq278
Guidelines summarize and evaluate all currently available evidence
on a particular issue with the aim of assisting physicians in selecting
the best management strategy for an individual patient suffering
from a given condition, taking into account the impact on
outcome, as well as the risk–benefit ratio of particular diagnostic
or therapeutic means. Guidelines are no substitutes for textbooks.
The legal implications of medical guidelines have been discussed
previously.
