The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists produces guidelines as an educational aid to good clinical practice.
The guidelines present recognised methods and techniques of clinical practice, based on published evidence, for consideration by obstetricians/gynaecologists and other relevant health professionals.
The ultimate judgement regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the doctor or other attendant in the light of clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available. This means that RCOG guidelines are unlike protocols or guidelines issued by employers, as they are not intended to be prescriptive directions defining a single course of management.
Departure from the local prescriptive protocols or guidelines should be fully documented in the patient’s case notes at the time the relevant decision is taken.