UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Harvard School of Public Health
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Health Law and Policy
Michael Cohen, JD
Course activities: Lectures, discussions, case studies. One 2-hour session each week.
(1.25 credits)

This course introduces students to health law and policy surrounding the integration of “complementary and alternative medical” (CAM) therapies (i.e., therapies historically outside biomedicine, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and herbal medicine) into mainstream health care. Topics include: definition and prevalence of CAM therapies; theory and practice of major CAM therapies; research methodologies and state of the science; licensing and regulation of CAM providers; professional discipline of physicians offering CAM therapies; credentialing and liability management strategies by health care institutions integrating these therapies; malpractice liability and informed consent issues; federal regulation of (and institutional policy involving) dietary supplements; emerging federal policy and state legislative developments; and related ethical questions. Readings are drawn from medical, public health, and health policy literature, as well as from statutes and cases. Students are expected to write an 8 to 10 page final paper and present a synopsis in class. No previous background in law is required, although HPM 213c and 215d are recommended.

Harvard Medical School
ME549.J Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Ted Kaptchuk, OMD, David Eisenberg, MD
January elective. Class meets Monday - Friday, 4 hours each day.

"Complementary and Integrative" (a.k.a. "unorthodox," "nonconventional," "alternative," "holistic") medicine refers to medical techniques not in conformity with the beliefs or standards of the conventional medical community and include: chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, massage, herbal medicines, spiritual healing, and macrobiotic diets. The course objectives are: 1) to gain knowledge of the basic theory and practice of complementary and integrative medical therapies commonly used in the U.S.; 2) to critically read the literature and assess the state of basic science knowledge and data from controlled trials relating to the efficacy and mechanisms of action of integrative medical therapies; 3) to identify study design limitations and propose creative solutions; and 4) to practice ways to discuss integrative medical therapy use with patients. Course format includes lectures and seminars led by Drs. Eisenberg and Kaptchuk, demonstrations by integrative medical practitioners, reading epidemiologic reviews and discussing cases involving patients who request or demand integrative therapies. The course explores the placebo effect and addresses the ways in which beliefs, expectations, and conditioning are critical issues in research design and patient-doctor communications. Students are required to design a prospective randomized controlled trial to critically assess one or more integrative therapies.