More Harm than Good?: The Moral Maze of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Description

This book reveals the numerous ways in which moral, ethical and legal principles are being violated by those who provide, recommend or sell ‘complementary and alternative medicine’ (CAM). The book analyses both academic literature and internet sources that promote CAM. Additionally the book presents a number of brief scenarios, both hypothetical and real-life, about individuals who use CAM or who fall prey to ethically dubious CAM practitioners. The events and conundrums described in these scenarios could happen to almost anyone. Professor emeritus of complementary medicine Edzard Ernst together with bioethicist Kevin Smith provide a thorough and authoritative ethical analysis of a range of CAM modalities, including acupuncture, chiropractic, herbalism, and homeopathy. This book could and should interest all medical professionals who have contact to complementary medicine and will be an invaluable reference for patients deliberating which course of treatment to adopt. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxv Clinical Competence (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 1-24 Research Fundamentals (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 25-60 The Reality of CAM Research (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 61-99 Education (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 101-121 Informed Consent (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 123-151 Truth (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 153-184 Exploitation (Edzard Ernst, Kevin Smith)....Pages 185-210 Back Matter ....Pages 211-223