J Law Med. 2003 Feb; 10(3): 296-307.

Obligation to advise of options for treatment--medical doctors and complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.

Weir M.

Law School, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld. 4229, Australia.

An important aspect of health professional's duty of care is to advise patients of the available options of treatment so that the patient can choose the form of treatment that suits her or his requirements. As CAM becomes more evidence-based and accepted, medical doctors need to consider the extent to which they should provide patients with information about those types of treatments. If a CAM treatment option is evidence-based, there is a strong argument that medical doctors should advise of this option for treatment to satisfy their duty. CAM practitioners should also provide details of options for treatment within their own modality but are not obliged to advise of medical options.