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Decision-making in pediatrics: a practical algorithm to evaluate complementary and alternative medicine for children

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Abstract

We herein present a preliminary practical algorithm for evaluating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children which relies on basic bioethical principles and considers the influence of CAM on global child healthcare. CAM is currently involved in almost all sectors of pediatric care and frequently represents a challenge to the pediatrician. The aim of this article is to provide a decision-making tool to assist the physician, especially as it remains difficult to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. The reasonable application of our algorithm together with common sense should enable the pediatrician to decide whether pediatric (P)-CAM represents potential harm to the patient, and allow ethically sound counseling. In conclusion, we propose a pragmatic algorithm designed to evaluate P-CAM, briefly explain the underlying rationale and give a concrete clinical example.

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Abbreviations

CAM:

Complementary and alternative Medicine

CAN:

Child abuse and neglect

CME:

Continuing medical education

p-CAM:

Pediatric complementary and alternative medicine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Raffaele Renella & Sergio Fanconi

Authors
  1. Raffaele Renella
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  2. Sergio Fanconi
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Correspondence to Raffaele Renella.

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Renella, R., Fanconi, S. Decision-making in pediatrics: a practical algorithm to evaluate complementary and alternative medicine for children. Eur J Pediatr 165, 437–441 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0093-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0093-4

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