Healthc Pap. 2003 ; 3(5): 30-6; discussion 72-7.

Complementary and alternative medicine: socially constructed or evidence-based?

Richardson J.

Research Director, School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, London, UK.

In their lead paper, Kelner and Wellman set out policy recommendations for the development of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This commentary examines some of the issues raised by Kelner and Wellman that relate to regulation of the professions and the nature of evidence. The extent to which the development of medicine is evidence-based or socially constructed is questioned.