Non-conventional therapies in childhood cancer: guidelines for distinguishing non-harmful from harmful therapies: a report of the SIOP Working Committee on Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Oncology.
This is the 11th official document of the SIOP Working Committee on Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Oncology, instituted in 1991. There is a tendency for some physicians to make blanket statements against the use of non-proven, non-conventional therapies, even when these therapies are not harmful. There is an equal and opposite tendency on the part of many parents to do all that they possibly can for their children, including using any non-conventional therapy they feel might do some good. The health care team must open a healthy dialogue with parents that will lead to a clear distinction between those complementary therapies that are harmful and those that are not, indeed, might even be helpful psychologically if not therapeutically.
Jankovic
Momcilo
M
Clinica Pediatrica dell'Università di Milano-Bicocca, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Italy.
Spinetta
John J
JJ
Martins
Antonio Gentil
AG
Pession
Andrea
A
Sullivan
Michael
M
D'Angio
Giulio J
GJ
Eden
Tim
T
Ben Arush
Myriam Weyl
MW
X
Sutaryo
S
Punkko
Leena-Riitta
LR
Epelman
Claudia
C
Masera
Giuseppe
G
D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians; D012944:Social Support