Abstract
Background and Purpose: In recent years, clinical practice guidelines related to stroke have been published in Japan and used in medical practice.Methods: We investigated trials which involved issues of stroke and searched the available full-text court records to find those with the term “stroke treatment clinical practice guidelines” in the ruling.Results: 7 cases (8 trials) were enrolled. In the medical negligence cases in which the guidelines were a factor in the guilty ruling, we confirmed the sentence had largely been made in accordance with the guidelines. Several verdicts seemed to emphasize the amount of evidence, as indicated by the guidelines.Conclusion: Although complete medical validity is not necessary in Japanese lawsuits, the guidelines may have some positive effect in terms of guaranteeing medical accuracy in a trial.
