Med J Aust. 2003 Sep; 179(6 Suppl): S46-8.

Complementary medicine: is it more acceptable in palliative care practice?

Kellehear A.

Palliative Care Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia. a.kellehear@latrobe.edu.au

Some complementary health modalities have found a well-accepted place in palliative care. The interdisciplinary nature of palliative care underlies the common acceptance of complementary therapies in this field of care. The experience of the interdisciplinary approach in palliative care may presage current changes in attitude towards complementary therapies in other areas of medicine. Growing collegiality and interdisciplinary teamwork in healthcare is encouraging the medical profession to see beyond scientific reservations and view complementary modalities as providing supportive roles.