Ethics and Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Traditional medicine is practiced in many countries and can contribute to improve human health provided that certain criteria are met such as, integration into the healthcare system, safety, efficacy, as well as quality. With regard to the ethical dimension of traditional medicine, the main difficulty lies in the diversity of ways in which it is practiced. The question currently being asked is whether traditional medicine is practicedin accordance with the bioethical principles of beneficence, autonomy and justice.

Beneficence is one of the pillars of medicine –providing beneficial treatment for the patient while avoiding or preventing harm– stems from a respect for life that must underpin any medical practice, including traditional medicine. Autonomy presupposes responsibility on the part of patients and their ability to make decisions for themselves. In the case of traditional practices, some therapies are based on magical or spiritual beliefs, however, free and informed consent must take account of the particular features of the proposed traditional treatment. The principle of justice is founded on the equal distribution of healthcare resources and expenditure, and the avoidance of discrimination. With regard to treatment, whether in modern or traditional medicine, the principle of justice requires that all patients with similar circumstances should have access to the same care, and that when resources are allocated to a group, the impact of this choice on others should be assessed. The same principle demands that all patients have access to effective and high-quality treatment, however, this cannot be achieved unless a concerted effort is made to assess the treatments available in modern and traditional medicine.