1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910300613603321

Autore

Chatfield Kate

Titolo

Traditional and Complementary Medicines: Are they Ethical for Humans, Animals and the Environment? / / by Kate Chatfield

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2018

ISBN

3-030-05300-8

Edizione

[1st ed. 2018.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (112 pages)

Collana

SpringerBriefs in Philosophy, , 2211-4548

Disciplina

615.882

Soggetti

Ethics

Complementary medicine

Medical ethics

Environment

Complementary & Alternative Medicine

Theory of Medicine/Bioethics

Environment, general

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Chapter 1. Defining traditional and complementary medicine -- Chapter 2: Defining health -- Chapter 3: An ethical matrix for traditional and complementary medicine -- Chapter 4: Ethical challenges for humans using traditional and complementary medicines -- Chapter 5: Ethical challenges for animals from traditional and complementary medicine -- Chapter 6: Ethical challenges for the environment from traditional and complementary medicine -- Chapter 7: Is traditional and complementary medicine ethical?.

Sommario/riassunto

This book provides a systematic analysis of the ethical implications of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM), focusing on pragmatic solutions. The author uses a bioethical methodology called the “Ethical Matrix,” to consider the impact of T&CM use for animals and the environment as well as for humans. A systematic search of the literature reveals that most published ethical concerns are related to the safety of T&CM use for humans. However, application of the Ethical Matrix demonstrates that the ethical implications for T&CM use are



much broader. In this book, the author analyses the most serious implications, including adverse events related to homeopathy, the use of animals in T&CM products, and the impact of herbal medicine on the environment. Comparisons with the ethical implications of conventional biomedicine help readers to contextualise debate, and highlight aspects that may be unique to T&CM. Globally, many high-level health policy makers promote T&CM as an accessible and affordable healthcare option. However, their use is considered by some to be a waste of resources, unscientific, and unethical. Offering a frank analysis of this largely ignored field of healthcare ethics, this book is both timely and essential. It helps patients, policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and students gain the knowledge they need to make more informed decisions.