Ethical Implications of the Increasing Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Background: The increasing demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) raises ethical questions about specific aspects of both CAM and conventional medicine (COM). Methods: The present article provides a critical survey of the most important ethical aspects in the current debate about CAM. Results: The relevant ethical issues arise mainly in 4 main areas: 1) patient information, 2) research ethics, 3) cost, and 4) education. Most of the contributions used for our purpose are based upon the implicit assumption that, in principle, the ethics of CAM and COM have to be identical because of the same underlying doctor-patient relationship. This premise is shared by the author. Conclusions: Substantial efforts on various levels will have to be made in order to create the conditions necessary for CAM to be ethically justified. But the ethical implications for COM also have to be considered.

Complementary Medicine for Cancer Patients in General Practice: Qualitative Interviews with German General Practitioners

“…However, a willingness to speak openly is insufficient unless supported by a sound knowledge of CAM. Improved information on CAM might therefore both encourage GPs to adopt a more (pro)active role with respect to patient-physician communication on CAM requests [29] and enable them to provide information on CAM therapies of which they have no practical experience. The more knowledge of CAM a GP has, the happier he or she will feel about supporting cancer patients in this direction [16] as well as in his or her own ability to provide overall cancer care [21,30].…”

Professional ethics in complementary and alternative medicines in management of Parkinson’s disease

“…Although the value of observation studies cannot be ignored, controlled clinical trials provide higher levels of evidence [56] and are the gold standard for measuring the efficacy of all medical interventions, including CAM methods [57]. Unfortunately, the number of clinical trials of Ayurvedic medicines in PD is insufficient and the design, methodology and quality of clinical trials lack the rigor to reach any recommendation.…”

“…CAM-researchers often failed to mention the adverse effects that may have occurred during the clinical trials [44–47, 58–60], and information about safety and adverse drug reactions in CAM is not readily available [57]. Consequently, some people may be lead to believe that CAM is safe while western medicine is toxic.…”

“…CAM non-medical practitioners should be able to recognize serious and acute cases by symptoms in order to refer those patients to their treating physician, while at the same time it is of paramount importance that the patients inform the latter of their use of CAMs [57]. In Korea, it is not rare for a patient with an acute stroke to visit an oriental medicine clinic.…”