U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Office of the Surgeon General
2003 Edition
The practice of medicine is an art and a science, and is evolving daily as new discoveries are made. Each individual medical provider is responsible for the individual medical care provided to each patient. Each provider must assess the patient and determine the specific clinical needs and most appropriate treatment for that patient. This book is not meant to be a substitute for medical practitioners or good clinical judgment, nor does it intend to determine the standards of medical care in any given situation.