Despite national efforts to standardize care and treatment, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association study published today might suggest otherwise. Researchers found that critical care physicians in tests preform the same with high-intensity standardized protocols as those who had low-intensity protocols, regarding mechanical ventilation management, according the study. Although most experts agree that protocols will help standardize care for patient safety, researchers question whether they will stifle active clinical decision making. "[I]t is unknown if unintended consequences of protocols exist, such as the potential creation of a physician workforce unable to think beyond an algorithm, and whether these consequences may outweigh the benefits to patients," the authors wrote. Press release