Ethical principles applied to complementary healing

With the public and professional shift to an interest in alternative/complementary therapies and holistic health, existing assumptions about the relationship between providers and clients are being challenged. This study explores the ethical approaches and underlying principles in the expectations of three organizations espousing holistic health and touch therapies. An analytic technique using a qualitative approach was applied to the documents of written ethical codes and standards from these organizations and was augmented by field exposure from previous work with each of the groups of healers. The emphasis on and approach to the principles of paternalism and autonomy from the groups provided contrasts with general biomedical approaches. All groups gave attention to the constructs of nonmaleficence, beneficence, and autonomy, with a strong emphasis on virtue ethics. The shift in the expression of the principles of paternalism and client agency allowed the healers to employ the therapeutic effects of placebo, suggestion, optimism, hope, and surrender with the avoidance of noicebo effects.