When Does a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommendation Become Standard of Care? Perhaps in the Courtroom. American College of Surgeons Mock Trial: Line Sepsis Liability

Abstract

w t o l T a t c w l b l w t his paper presents a mock trial conducted by the Amerian College of Surgeons at the 2006 Clinical Congress, in hich litigation was brought against a hospital and two urgeons for their alleged failure to follow a “reasonable” tandard of care for the insertion and maintenance of cenral venous catheters, resulting in fatal bacterial endocardiis. The prosecution argued that the attending physicians hould have followed the guidelines set forth by the Ceners for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the revention of intravascular catheter-related infections; the efense argued that the standard of care followed was conentional and met the “community” standard of care.