CM courses defended
July 16, 2012
AN ARTICLE published today in
the Medical Journal of Australia
strongly defends the teaching of
complementary medicine courses
in Australian universities.
Professor Stephen Myers, director
of the natural medicine research
unit at Southern Cross University,
has responded to an earlier article
on behalf of a group called Friends
of Science in Medicine (FSM), which
condemned the growth of CM
courses in Australian universities.
FSM spokesman Prof Alastair
MacLennan from the University of
Adelaide said the trend in “pseudo
scientific health courses” was
undermining the scientific
credibility of Australian universities.
However today’s article says that
removing these courses will not
reduce public demand for the
sector but could result in a lowering
of their educational rigour.
“The real benefit of an
appropriately mentored and
approved university education is
the exposure of students to the
biomedical sciences, epidemiology
and population health, differential
diagnosis, safe practice and clinical
appraisal,” said Professor Myers.
He said the courses help develop
critical thinking and “fulfil the criteria
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