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PRINCIPLES REGARDING INTEGRATIVE, COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (ICAM)

The American Medical Student Association:

1.             recognizes the potential inherent to non-western systems of medicine and forms of health care and prevention currently available outside of accepted biomedical practice.

a.             The term “Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine” shall be understood so as to correspond with definitions used by the National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines. “Complementary medicine” shall be understood to mean the use of alternative medicine secondary, or as an adjunct, to unconventional therapies alongside conventional biomedicine with the approval of a licensed physician. The term “alternative medicine” shall be understood to mean the use of unconventional therapies in place of conventional biomedicine. The term “integrative medicine” shall be understood to mean medical practice combining conventional treatments and CAM therapies where there is some quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. The term “Holistic Medicine” shall be understood to correspond with the American Holistic Medical Association’s principles, which refer to a practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of relationship between practitioner and patient, emphasizes prevention, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal health and healing. (2006)

b.             encourages research and investigation regarding integrative, alternative and complementary medicines (ICAM) within ethical, legal, professional guidelines. (2005)

c.             encourages medical students and residents to seek and take advantage of educational opportunities in integrative, alternative and complementary medicine. When unavailable, medical students and residents are encouraged to propose the addition of such opportunities to the curricula or practices of their respective institutions. (2005)

d.             encourages medical administrators and faculty to meet the demands of their students and the patient population by developing and implementing appropriate training in integrative, complementary, and alternative medicines. Training should include general information about the variety of treatment alternatives available to the general public, especially those that have been proven to be effective. (2005)

e.             Conscientious and effective health care shall include the use of integrative, complementary and alternative medicine when such remedies or modalities have been clearly demonstrated to positively affect patient outcomes.  In cases where efficacy is undetermined but strongly suspected, ICAM may be used with the same precautions and indications for other experimental therapies. (2005)

f.              Physicians and physicians-in-training have an obligation to respect the patient’s prerogative to self-treat with over-the-counter alternatives, visit a practitioner in the field of ICAM, and otherwise choose nonbiomedical means of health care and maintenance. (2005)