Health care decision-making, CM and the law

One of the potential benefits of complementary medicine is the greater promotion of patient autonomy through a holistic approach to health care decision-making. This article begins an exploration of the legal and ethical obligations of health professionals to provide information and advice to a patient to enable an informed decision to be made. What are the obligations of health professionals and how do the obligations sit with the holistic approach to health care? Do holistic models of decision-making, such as shared decision-making, assist health professionals to navigate complex decision-making contexts such as integrative care in oncology and paediatric care? And can holistic models of decision-making facilitate a triadic relationship with the doctor, complementary practitioner and the patient in less complex contexts to ensure that patients have access to evidence-based complementary medicine? (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.