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Ethical Challenges for Humans Using Traditional and Complementary Medicines

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Traditional and Complementary Medicines: Are they Ethical for Humans, Animals and the Environment?

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Philosophy ((BRIEFSPHILOSOPH))

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Abstract

Critics of traditional and complementary medicine assert that people are putting their trust in the hands of incompetent and poorly regulated practitioners who are deliberately misleading patients about benefits leading to risks to health, and even lives. Injury or infection from acupuncture needles, severe injuries from osteopathy or chiropractic manipulation, or rejection of effective conventional medicine, are just some of the threats described for humans who use traditional and complementary medicine. The two most commonly cited safety concerns are examined: adverse drug reactions from herbal medicine and the potential for harm from delayed access to conventional care when using homeopathy. Through examination of real world scenarios and data, discrepancy between the rhetoric and the reality of these contentious issues is revealed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The study of the absorption, distribution and elimination of a pharmaceutical in the body.

  2. 2.

    The fraction of a dose absorbed by the subject and the rate at which it is absorbed.

  3. 3.

    Homeopathic remedies are prepared from a very broad range of animal, mineral and plant substances that are serially diluted in water and ethanol. Between each dilution, the solution is succussed (shaken vigorously). Homeopaths believe that this method of preparation increases the potency of the remedies and lessens the potential for side effects. However, the process of dilution commonly exceeds the point at which any molecules of the original substance might be expected to remain in solution (as relating to Avogadro’s constant), leading to the accusation that the remedies can be no more effective than water.

  4. 4.

    This view has been challenged by a small number of scientists who have proposed explanations that are consistent with current scientific thinking; for example, Rutten, L., Mathie, R.T., Fisher, P., Goossens, M. and van Wassenhoven, M., 2013. Plausibility and evidence: the case of homeopathy. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 16(3), pp. 525–532.

  5. 5.

    Obviously there may be many more cases that have gone unreported.

  6. 6.

    This was an observational study and the lack of a control group means that cause and effect cannot be established. Homeopathic treatment typically involves a long consultation as well as the prescription of homeopathic medications. The improvements could have been due to either of these factors, both of these factors or something else.

  7. 7.

    When trying to assess competence the following are all important:

    • Does the patient have support networks in place?

    • Are other health professionals actively involved?

    • Does the practitioner feel confident and comfortable with this case?

    • What else needs to be put in place?

    • Is regular supervision arranged?

    • Who can be asked for help when needed?

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  1. Centre for Professional Ethics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

    Kate Chatfield

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Chatfield, K. (2018). Ethical Challenges for Humans Using Traditional and Complementary Medicines. In: Traditional and Complementary Medicines: Are they Ethical for Humans, Animals and the Environment?. SpringerBriefs in Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05300-0_4

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