Monatsschr Kinderheilkd. 1982 Feb; 130(2): 78-81.

[The paramedical approach and medical ethics (author's transl)]

Ewerbeck H.

The fundamentally different approaches of modern science-based medicine and of those magic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures like iridiagnosis anthroposophical medicine, homeopathy, cell-therapy, neural-therapy, magnetic therapy and others, are analysed. Science-based medicine relies on the rules of the principle of causality, reproducibility, and predictability of its results, supported by its success. The dangers of modern medicine are its rationality and factualness which the doctor has to adapt individually to each patient. Otherwise he renders the patient susceptible to paramedical methods which make use of his suggestibility and need for comfort and consolation. Nothing is to be said against these methods as long as they are used as a psychotherapeutic vehicle, do no harm, and do not exploit the patient economically. If that would be the case, the patient must be protected against such quackery.