Program on Integrative Medicine Law and Policy

The Program on Integrative Medicine Law and Policy explores legal, ethical, institutional, and social policy issues concerning the integration of complementary therapies into conventional care. We are pleased to announce four funded projects for 2004-2005, two of which involve international collaboration:

Decision Making About Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Children and Youth: Legal, Ethical, and Clinical Issues (funded by the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, Toronto). This two-year funded study brings an international perspective to health care law and policy involving physician and parental decisions around use of CAM therapies for children. Michael H. Cohen serves as U.S.-based Research Collaborator. 

Governmental Regulations for Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in Eastern and Western Countries (funded by the Ministry of Science and Research of Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany) . This project involves collaboration with international partners, including the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, on evaluation of regulatory frameworks for Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine. In this project, Michael H. Cohen serves as Consultant with respect to U.S. law.

Important Conversations...Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What You Must Ask. This educational video will offer guidance to clinicians, seeking to advise their patients about use of complementary and alternative medicine. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Integrative Medicine Program, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute Cancer Patient Education Network Complementary and Alternative Medicine Task Force, is undertaking the project. Michael H. Cohen will address informed consent and malpractice issues in the video.

About Breast Cancer: CAM Therapies. This project involves an effort by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, in collaboration with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, to update on-line information for breast cancer patients regarding safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative medical therapies. Michael H. Cohen will serve as contributor editor.

In addition to these projects, Michael H. Cohen is involved in a number of additional funded research projects in his part-time role as Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Legal Programs at the Harvard Medical School Osher Institute and Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integartive Medical Therapies.

For a complete list of completed articles based on past research projects, click here.