Legal Issues Related to Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract

Patient use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) appears to be increasing, according to research by the Federal Government. Several national studies have been performed in the last 10 years regarding the efficacy and safety of certain CAM therapies. It is important for nurse managers to know about the various forms of CAM, the evidence for and against the use of some of these therapies, and the legal risks posed by patients' use of these therapies. Nurses who are educated about these therapies can work more effectively to identify and document patient use and help ensure that CAM does not interfere with the patient's traditional medical treatments.