With hospitals, private clinics, and individual practices establishing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) programs, guidelines and standards need to be established. It is important to note here that these guidelines, which will present consistency and create a basis for quality, are not created to protect the public from itself or from “quacks” who seek to take advantage of incurable disease states. First, there will always be those who seek to take advantage of people regardless of any guidelines, standards, or licensing laws. Licensing laws were originally intended to set standards and restrictions concerning the practice of health care, rather than protect patients. Civil laws about causing harm to others and committing.
