Clinical guidelines provide recommendations for healthcare professionals based on a systematic review of evidence. The aim of this paper is to describe their historical development, highlight the benefits they bring, but also potential drawbacks. The first guidelines were published in the 1960s, and due to their applicability, their number continues to grow. The advantages they offer include standardizing healthcare, resulting in improved clinical outcomes. In this way, inefficient methods are abandoned. Additionally, patients can find information in guidelines about what is optimal for them, and guidelines empower the position of patients. This can lead to better healthcare system efficiency. However, clinical guidelines also have their disadvantages. Some questions do not have answers in the high quality evidence, but instead rely on expert opinions, which can be incorrect. Sometimes, due to inconclusive research results, recommendations can also be ambiguous. Because of the rapid influx of new evidence, recommendations in guidelines can become outdated. Although protocols have been developed, there is still the possibility of conflicts of interest among authors and bias due to research funding sources. Clinical guidelines have improved healthcare and are responsible for enhancing patient outcomes. However, to make a final decision about an individual patient’s approach, one should also consider patient values and the clinical judgment assessment, which is in line with evidence-based medicine principles.