Informed Consent in Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Author Information
Author(s): Opher Caspi, Shalom Tamar, Holexa Joshua
Primary Institution: Integrative Medicine Unit, Rabin Medical Center and the Tel-Aviv University
Hypothesis
What constitutes 'informed' in the informed consent process in CAM?
Conclusion
There is a widespread lack of standards regarding the informed consent process across various CAM modalities.
Supporting Evidence
- Practitioners expressed concerns that informed consent could disrupt the therapeutic alliance.
- Many practitioners felt that the informed consent process is more of a legal obligation than a means to educate patients.
- Practitioners varied greatly in the amount and type of information they deemed necessary for informed consent.
Takeaway
This study looked at how CAM practitioners talk to patients about informed consent, and found that there are no clear rules or standards, which can make it confusing for patients.
Methodology
Face-to-face qualitative interviews with 28 non-MD CAM practitioners.
Potential Biases
Practitioners may have personal biases affecting their views on informed consent.
Limitations
The study only included non-MD practitioners in a specific geographic area, which may not represent all CAM providers.
Participant Demographics
15 males and 13 females representing 11 different CAM modalities.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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