The ethics of complementary and alternative medicine research: a case study of traditional Chinese medicine at the University of Technology, Sydney.
This article considers various approaches used in complementary and alternative medicine research, and discusses the challenges that reviewing such research poses for Human Research Ethics Committees. Drawing on our experience with the University of Technology Sydney HREC, we offer some suggestions about how ethical principles governing conventional medical research can be applied in the context of research in complementary and alternative medicine. We argue that effective HREC review requires members to gain familiarity with such research, which helps ensure that such research is conducted rigorously and ethically.
Zaslawski
Chris
C
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
Davis
Susanna
S
D001315:Australia; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000941:ethics*; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D012107:Research Design; D012449:Safety