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To the Editor: Although the article by Dr Wetzel and colleagues¹ is a welcome addition to the scant literature on medical education in alternative medicine, a sensitive issue missing from the authors' comments was consideration of the intention of these courses. Some believe that presentation of information about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is, by implication, advocacy of CAM. The fine line between conveying information about a therapy and its clinical application vs "how-to" instruction is a very important distinction. This differentiation is reflected in the American Academy of Family Physicians' recently issued policy on continuing medical accreditation for courses addressing alternative medicine, which accepts the former approach but disallows accreditation of courses including the latter information.

The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine's Group on Alternative (Integrative) Medicine was formed in 1993 to facilitate medical education about CAM therapies. In addition to conducting the first formal survey of CAM . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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