Morality and Ethical Principles in Alternative Interventions - Essay Example

According to the NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (2018), alternative interventions in medicine refer to all the other treatment approaches used rather than the standard treatments prescribed in the traditional medical curricula. As defined by Adams (2014), alternative interventions are medical practices and treatment plans that are outside mainstream medicine. The application of alternative interventions in medicine is within the discretion of the health care providers and requires keen consideration before administration of any alternative treatment.

 The physicians dealing with patients in a situation where there are no regulatory agencies regarding the use of alternative interventions have a moral obligation to ensure the patients make the right choices. The physicians have experience regarding treatment and should not discredit the patients’ choices regarding alternative treatment options. The physicians should set aside personal preferences and opinions regarding alternative treatment plans and enlighten the patients on all possible treatment options (Jacobson & Cain, 2009).

The physicians should engage in open two-way communication with patients without holding back information based on personal opinions to create free, non-judgmental, trustworthy relationships that ensure the patients learn of the bad treatment options and distinguish the reputable alternative treatment options from harmful/unsuitable ones (Ernst, 2018). The physicians dealing with patients in a situation where there are no regulatory agencies regarding the use of alternative interventions are morally and ethically obligated to avail all information to get informed consent from the patients.

According to Adams (2014), the patients have the preconceived notion that any alternative intervention plan that involves herbs and natural ingredients, is safe. It is the moral responsibility of the physicians to provide the relevant information regarding all the alternative medicine options to guide the patients in making informed consent decisions. Most of the alternative treatment plans do not have efficacy data and evidence of facilitating treatment (Adams, 2014).