VPQHC Practice Guidelines Disclaimer

The Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc. ("VPQHC"), through its network of peer review committees and their members, has developed and published for the general use and reference of the medical community certain clinical practice guidelines and study group reports (collectively the "Guidelines").

The Guidelines are systematically developed statements which assist physician and patient decision-making in regard to appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. The Guidelines are advisory in nature and must be applied in a flexible manner based upon the particular facts and circumstances of the situation presented. As a result adherence to the Guidelines is completely voluntary. The Guidelines should not be considered to be inclusive of all proper methods of care or exclusive of other methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same or similar results. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of or following any specific procedure must be made by the responsible physician in light of the individual circumstances presented by the patient.

Based upon the foregoing, and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 1443 of Title 26 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated, no director, officer, member, employee or agent of VPQHC shall be permitted or required to testify in any civil action, including but not limited to any state agency or arbitration hearing, as to the validity, necessity or requirement of any diagnosis, procedure or treatment set forth or described in any statement, suggestion, recommendation, evaluation, opinion or conclusion of the Guidelines (collectively the "Statements"), or regarding the determination or development of any Statements.

The material provided on the VPQHC Page is designed to provide general information in regard to the subject matters covered. The information on this Page is provided with the understanding that VPQHC is not engaged in rendering medical advice or recommendation or other professional services. You should not rely on any information in text files, messages or articles on this Page to replace consultations with qualified health care professional to meet your individual medical needs. If medical advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional should be sought.

VPQHC and its officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives, both individually and collectively, make no warranties or representations concerning the content or clinical efficacy of the Guidelines and related materials and specifically disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied or express warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular usage, application or purpose. Further, VPQHC does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, clinical efficacy or value of the information contained herein.

Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc.
132 Main Street, P.O. Box 1356, Montpelier, VT 05601