When Traditional Chinese Medicine and Conventional Medicine Meet: The Do's, the Don'ts, and the Ethics of Interaction

The use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become more common in America over the past four decades. When therapies like acupuncture and Chinese herbs increased in popularity in the United States in the 1970s, some physicians thought they were just a passing trend, but the continued growth and popularity of TCM since then suggests that it is here to stay. Conventional medicine has not always given a warm welcome to these new therapies, and some mainstream practitioners remain skeptical. The increasing use of TCM, and the fact that most patients do not rely solely on TCM, but seek conventional care as well, means that these two areas of treatment will (and do) interact. In this thesis I explore the ethical dimensions of the relationship between conventional biomedicine and traditional Chinese medicine. I examine several different ways in which these two realms could interact, focusing on how these different approaches would affect patient outcomes, as well as clinical practice and scientific research. I argue that pluralism is currently the best way for TCM and conventional medicine to interact. I also suggest specific ways to improve inter-professional relationships.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Hoppes, Emily

• bioethics

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/36421

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/36421