What guidelines? Doctors have tremendous latitude in how they treat patients and, as far as I know, there are no "official" guidelines for most diseases (very

What guidelines? Doctors have tremendous latitude in how they treat patients and, as far as I know, there are no "official" guidelines for most diseases (very communicable diseases might be one major exception). There are guidelines for developing, manufacturing, advertising, and selling drugs. However, doctors can use them off-label. From the FDA (here: http://www.fda.gov/ForPatients/Other/OffLabel/default.htm http://www.fda.gov/ForPatients/Other/OffLabel/default.htm ) "From the FDA perspective, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient. "