“A 38-year-old woman presents with severe vaginal bleeding and discharge that had continued for three months. A biopsy and CT PET scans revealed stage IIB high-grade squamous cell cervical carcinoma. Chemotherapy and radiation were suggested by the patient's gynecologist …Instead, the patient sought treatment at a facility whose Web site guarantees patients will be cured by their special combination of radiation and “immune boosting” herbal treatments, which preserve ovarian function…Though the patient and her spouse promised to consider standard treatment, the patient did not return… Ten months later, the patient returned to her gynecologist's office with increased vaginal bleeding and discharge… the patient died 21 months from her original diagnosis (Jacobson and Cain).
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), techniques used outside the mainstream medical practices, have become widely used for variety of reasons. Many patients are attracted to the idea of CAM treatments because they less expensive than conventional medications, available on the Internet sources, and some patients disbelieve with the health care system (Ventola). “The popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is considerable: the one year prevalence of CAM usage …show more content…
Since they have less funding for research and development than common medicine techniques do, they have less credibility in performing as they are meant to. Adding to the performance, most of the time CAM producers rely on money, and to sell their product they heavily exaggerate on the effectiveness on the products, which make them even less reliable. This begs the question, is CAM ethical? Doctors should be able to answer that fairly, in consideration of their patient’s health. Consumers should be also educated on the matter however, and be able to access any information concerning CAM for their own
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), techniques used outside the mainstream medical practices, have become widely used for variety of reasons. Many patients are attracted to the idea of CAM treatments because they less expensive than conventional medications, available on the Internet sources, and some patients disbelieve with the health care system (Ventola). “The popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is considerable: the one year prevalence of CAM usage …show more content…
Since they have less funding for research and development than common medicine techniques do, they have less credibility in performing as they are meant to. Adding to the performance, most of the time CAM producers rely on money, and to sell their product they heavily exaggerate on the effectiveness on the products, which make them even less reliable. This begs the question, is CAM ethical? Doctors should be able to answer that fairly, in consideration of their patient’s health. Consumers should be also educated on the matter however, and be able to access any information concerning CAM for their own