While clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) were developed to help improve patient care, they have increasingly been used as evidence in medical malpractice lawsuits. They are used by both sides in malpractice litigation as a surrogate for the standard of care. Providing care compliant with a CPG can be protective for physicians, but it does not completely absolve them of liability. Providing noncompliant care does carry an increased risk of litigation, but there are several defenses that have been successfully used to defend physicians. Effective communication and comprehensive documentation help mitigate the risk incurred by not following a CPG.