AN INVITATION TO JOIN A CONTROVERSY

This editorial concerns the need for consensus about medical practice issues. Practice guidelines issued by organizations like the American College of Physicians (ACP) should supplant medical textbooks as the preferred source for authoritative recommendations. The key elements of the ACP's process for developing guidelines are a critical review of the published evidence; the making of a strong recommendation only when the evidence is strong; a critical evaluation by experts; and review and approval by three College committees. The College will alter this process to increase the role of ACP members in the selection of topics and the evaluation of guidelines, We invite the readers of this journal to help refine the guidelines for management stable angina pectoris.