Hi Bonnie,

I was asking the question with reference to:

" News Release: February 8, 2007
Polyanalgesic Consensus Panel Issues New Guidelines for Pain Management via Intraspinal Infusion"

Are you saying these new guidelines won't have any force behind them, so medics can decide for themselves how they treat patients anyway? I suppose they are only guidelines, after all, but if that's the case, what's the point of them?

I read them as being a concensus of opinion by the named doctors, with reference to recent practice and clinical results, as to the safest and most effective tools for pain management. So....well, I obviously don't know enough about the US medical system. I was assuming there would be a point to publishing these guidelines, as it applies to future treatment.

I'm confused!
all the best