LEGAL ISSUES FOR MEDICAL DOCTORS IN THE PROVISION OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by medical doctors creates special legal and ethical concerns as this type of therapy does not necessarily conform to the scientifically based approach preferred by orthodox medicine. This dilemma may be dealt with by the use of relatively conservative CAM therapies when orthodox medicine does not provide effective treatment, reference to contractual regulation to clarify for the patient what approach is being taken by the doctor or through reference to professional guidelines produced by medical boards that specify what is acceptable use of CAM.