The Wire

Lives are being put at risk because Australian doctors have insufficient knowledge about complementary medicine. A recent survey found doctors are unaware of the adverse reactions complementary medicine can have mixed with conventional medications. With eighty per cent of the world’s population relying on herbal and complementary medicine this lack of knowledge in the Australian hospital system could have devastating consequences. Monash University Lecturer, Lesley Braun and Dr Peter Ford from the Australian Medical Association talk about how complementary medicine is being used, or not used, in the hospital system.