March 24, 2006 – The College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ) is opening up to alternative approaches that have scientifically proven their worth. However, the College warns doctors and patients against the risks posed by unrecognized treatments.
By a position statement1 that he has just made public, the CMQ, through its President and CEO, Dr.r�Yves Lamontagne, urges doctors to open up to all treatments because of the public’s enthusiasm for new therapies. The College also wants its members to encourage their patients to exercise prudence in health matters.
The CMQ felt challenged by the case of Quebec parents who went abroad with their children suffering from serious illnesses, often incurable, so that they could receive experimental treatment. “The doctors treating these children were unanimously opposed to this treatment, which they considered unnecessary, even dangerous, and asked for an opinion on the attitude to adopt”, one can read in this position statement.
“We wanted to answer the questions of doctors on the attitude that should be adopted in front of certain new and risky treatments”, explained Dr The mountain.
Also, the CMQ offers a dozen questions2 that patients and healthcare professionals should ask themselves in order to distinguish reliable treatment from unrecognized treatment. “Patients are increasingly better informed, agrees Dr. Lamontagne, but they are not immune to the trap of miracle solutions, especially when the therapeutic means offered reveal their limits: they then become targets of choice. “
The Dr Lamontagne cited a few examples of recognized therapeutic approaches, including acupuncture which can treat various ailments and biofeedback which brings a real state of relaxation. He also mentioned omega-3s which reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
A first step
The DD Sylvie Dodin, holder of the Lucie and André Chagnon Chair for teaching an integrated approach in prevention, at Laval University in Quebec City, welcomes the opening of the Collège des médecins du Québec. According to her, it is to be hoped that the CMQ’s position statement will enable physicians to become aware of the need to initiate a dialogue with therapists in alternative and complementary medicine.
She points out that unrecognized treatments are not the prerogative of alternative approaches. “Half of medical procedures are not based on convincing scientific data. While we must be wary of gurus of all kinds, we also owe it to ourselves, as doctors, to ask questions about certain drugs that are presented to us, ”she said.
DD Dodin considers that the State must also assume its own responsibilities in terms of public protection. “The government needs to develop regulations that will ensure consumer protection,” she concludes.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. The statement of the College of Physicians: http://www.cmq.org (PDF format) [consulté le 24 mars 2006].
2. Unrecognized treatments: let’s ask ourselves questions, the College of Physicians: http://www.cmq.org (PDF format) [consulté le 24 mars 2006].
