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The ethics of complementary therapy research recruitment: a case study.

We suggest that physicians responsible for the clinical care of their patients have a moral and ethical duty to thoughtfully consider recruitment to appropriately approved, funded, and peer reviewed research that may possibly help the people for whom they are responsible. This facilitates the sustained development of evidence-based medicine while recognising the clinical needs of their patients and their rights to informed consent. We do not believe that physicians have the right to fail to inform or exclude patients from such studies based on their personal beliefs. We present a case study that illustrates this issue within the context of researching spiritual healing and cancer.

CAM use has increased considerably in the Western industrialised nations over the last 25 years with around 83% of cancer patients using it in some form,1 almost invariably in conjunction with conventional medicine, to ameliorate the side effects of treatments.2 About 40% of CAM users consulted concurrently with their orthodox physician about the same problem and self manage their CAM and conventional medical treatments,3,4 an approach which has generated considerable debate within the context of oncology.

There are currently about 14 000 registered spiritual healers in the UK.5 Spiritual healing is an ancient approach to illness which acknowledges the spiritual dimension of human existence. It does not refer in any way to religion or a specific religious belief system.6 There is some preliminary evidence to suggest it can create profound relaxation and pain relief7–11 which may also improve depression7,8,11–13 and anxiety8,10–12 as well as encourage sleep9,13 and engender inner peace,7,14 thus potentially improving wellbeing …