So-called alternative methods are surely not the solution for the therapy of chronic pain. Although those methods may often produce a marked placebo effect, it must be pointed out that so far there has not been any proof of a specific effect. At some methods, especially acupuncture, a therapeutic effect seems possible. Further carefully planned clinical studies are necessary. Finally the therapy with such unproofed methods often causes high costs that contrast to the effectivity.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMed1995

[Alternative medicine in private personal insurance].

In Germany there is a trend to so-called "natural" or "alternative" medical methods especially among young people of good education and higher income. Those persons are also the typical target group of the private person insurance so that it seems necessary to deal with such methods. While the original "classical" methods of naturopathy have been acknowledged in the scientific medicine for many years and are mainly used in the medical rehabilitation, the so-called "alternative" methods are further on controversial. In the first place, the risks of such unconventional methods are to be monitored, especially the danger of a wrong diagnosis in using unproved diagnostical methods and the danger of side-effects in therapy. Another problematical fact is that during an unconventional treatment the diagnosis of an intoxication by outdoor or indoor pollution or by amalgam of toothfillings is often made without standing a critical proof. Usually, an expensive therapy will follow with no end in sight. Furthermore, the diagnosis of a so-called intoxication of psychical disordered patients, especially those with a masked depression, can prevent a necessary medical or psychotherapeutic treatment. Disorders will be felt more and more as somatic and get a chronical course so that they are finally resistant to therapy.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1994

[Expert assessment of naturopathy, alternative treatment methods and homeopathic practitioners].

An expert opinion on genuine naturopathy cures which have widely been integrated into so-called "medical-school" treatment usually presents no problem. Difficulties may arise, however, when evaluating so-called alternative or unconventional methods, as it is typical for these to be based on hypothetical thinking patterns, and more so, as there is no proof of action in the postulated fields of indication that would meet current standards. Here, it is the task of the expert to determine whether the assertions of the appliers of these methods are comprehensible and substantiated and whether the methods may be considered medically indicated for the individual case. The claim of those practicing these methods that they are the only ones capable of judging them must be denied in principle. To determine if there is a medical indication for treatment by a non-medical practitioner in any individual case, the criteria applied should be basically the same as for medical treatment by a physician. Also, according to a judgment by the German Federal Court, a non-medical practitioner using invasive methods must meet the same standards of knowledge and advanced training as any general practitioner working in this field.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1994

[Fee for physician services in completing a life insurance examination].

The question if reports and examinations by medical doctors in the completion of a life insurance policy must be charged according to the official German schedule of fees for medical doctors (GOA) is answered differently in the literature. As the GOA has legal force, an account according to the GOA is prescribed if there is no other conclusion between insurance company and medical doctor. Indisputably an account according to the GOA must be made for additional medical achievements such as laboratory examinations, electrocardiography and x-ray examinations. Insurance companies that offer for the medical report or the examination a fee within the regular limits of the GOA-numbers cannot be blamed to offer an inadequate fee.

Fees, Medical↗

PubMed1993

[Propagating outsider methods at German universities].

According to the general-even legal-opinion and as I see it myself, the work at universities has to be carried out scientifically. Nevertheless, in the field of medicine it appears that at some German universities scientifically not generally acknowledged methods (outsider methods) are propagated uncritically. The violation of rules of scientific working methods, which obviously does not happen by chance, but rather systematically, can be proved in a number of publications. However, this can neither lead to the conclusion that German medical faculties do not work scientifically in principle, nor should it be regarded as a demand to stop the research into controversial methods of the scientifically not generally acknowledged medicine. In the face of the great number of scientifically not generally acknowledged methods as well as the limited funds and restricted research capacities at German universities, it would be sensible to continue the research only into unconventional methods which base on a plausible theory of effectiveness and where due to the results up to now a certain success can be expected.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1991

[Meaning of the "scientific validity clause" of private hospital insurance (section 5/1 f MB/KK 76). With reference to recent verdicts].

As per Section 5/1 f of the classic conditions 1976 of the "Association of private health insurance carriers" (Verband der privaten Krankenversicherung), benefits won't be paid for methods of examination or treatment and remedies which are from the scientific point of view generally not recognized. Basic reflections have led to the fact that today the term "scientifically recognized methods" and the term "traditional medicine" will be treated as equivalent. Contrary verdicts, according to which treatments on the basis of anthroposophic medicine or by means of electro-acupuncture by Voll would be considered as generally recognized medicine from the scientific point of view and would have to be paid by the private health insurance carriers, are consequently not comprehensible. Supposing that the trend continues that private health insurers have to pay more and more expenses incurred for all kind of outsider-methods, this would lead not only to a great drain on the purse of the private health insurance carriers, but have also unpleasant consequences for the whole medicine, because the uniformity of the medicine is endangered. To take steps against has not only to be the task of the private health insurance carriers, but it is also in the interest of the physicians and, at last, of the patients, too.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1991

[Naturopathy and alternative medicine--definition of the concept and delineation].

Naturopathic and biological systems of medicine are defined as disciplines that are not directed straight-away against pathological processes as such; their effect is based on stimulating the body's own resources of healing and regulating the dysfunctions that become manifest as disease, using natural active principles as levers to fight disease. Genuine naturopathic systems have mostly been able to prove their science-based efficacy and can be employed successfully especially in chronic diseases and in the after-treatment of severe disease patterns i.e. within the framework of post-disease treatment or rehabilitation. This is contrasted by methods that have not been scientifically proven or acknowledged, i.e. "fringe" systems based on speculative models of thinking, that could not be proven as being clinically effective. These methods cannot be equated with those of naturopathy. German private sickness insurance companies exclude from payment all methods of examination and treatment that are not scientifically recognised, but the German state-managed sickness insurance system provides for paying a subsidy unless the method in question has been specifically excluded. Attention is drawn to the problems that arise if persons who are entitled to receiving a subsidy take out an additional private insurance to supplement the same.

Complementary Therapies↗

PubMed1989

[Comment on the article by R. Petzoldt, Bad Oeynhausen: "Cost control in drug therapy of diabetes"].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cost Control↗

PubMed1989

[Naturopathy procedures. Problems in differentiation from unconventional and scientifically generally unrecognized diagnostic and therapeutic methods].

The methods of true biological medicine are well defined and acknowledged by the classical medicine. In contrary to them, there is a number of methods which should be defined as "scientifically (now) not generally acknowledged". This term is neither positively coloured nor negatively and does not include, that these methods are ineffective--it just signifies, that (at least until now) the effectivity could not be proved unobjectionably. Of course, just these methods have to be examined carefully in regard to their basic theory, their claim of efficiency and their relation of benefit and risk. Undoubtedly there are also some other methods mostly with a magic-occult base which can only be defined by the term "paramedicine".

Complementary Therapies↗