Although historically, the phenomenon of spiritual healing emerged as a religious practice within the context of specific religious traditions and has traditionally been ascribed only to mystics, saints, and holy persons, in modern times, a variety of spiritual healing practices unconnected with traditional religion have entered mainstream professional health care. These practices are used in a variety of health care professions, from medicine to nursing, dentistry, and other allied health professions.For example, some physicians either collaborate with (or refer to) spiritual healers or use “‘healing energy’ through touch” without naming a particular style, school, or technique, and a spiritual healing modality known as Therapeutic Touch is part of the curriculum in many nursing schools. Use of caring or healing touch is increasingly described as potentially useful in various health care settings, from acute care, to surgery, to obstetrical nursing practice; and Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing, has even been used in efforts to help survivors recover from torture.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/3DAF6D3EBB010E9C5FD350F9646859C4/S0748081400006044a.pdf/div-class-title-healing-at-the-borderland-of-medicine-and-religion-regulating-potential-abuse-of-authority-by-spiritual-healers-div.pdf

Healing at the Borderland of Medicine and Religion: Regulating Potential Abuse of Authority by Spiritual Healers

Modern cancer treatment, while often producing lifelong cures, can also result in permanent damage to many organ systems. Although more than 70% of children and young adults can be cured of their cancers, infertility, which frequently accompanies curative therapies for many common types of cancer, is one of the most devastating long-term complications. In this paper we discuss the medical, legal, and ethical ramifications of attempting to prevent this side effect and present some of the challenges that remain.

Preserving Fertility In Young Cancer Patients: A Medical, Ethical And Legal Challenge

Lack of standards in informed consent in complementary and alternative medicine.

(2003). Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 331-358.

2003 Greenwall Bioethics Award. Complementary and alternative medicine. Ethical and legal aspects of informed consent to treatment.

Complementary and integrative therapy is evolving toward greater acceptance and practice by the mainstream healthcare. As with any therapeutic intervention, moral and ethical issues that arise require careful attention in ensuring that healthcare decision making and the consenting process are conducted legally and ethically while respecting and preserving fundamental human rights. Critical to the informed consent process is unrestricted practitioner-patient communication and disclosure of available alternative therapies.

A Karpman

Papers

Informed consent: does the First Amendment protect a patient's right to choose alternative treatment?