We have had numerous questions over the years from people wondering if they should continue to visit a doctor who offers New Age healing methods in his/her practice, even if the patient specifically requests that the doctor not use these methods when treating them. In this case, is there any harm in continuing to see these doctors?

Yes.

The reason I say this is not because you might become “infected” by some of these practices, particularly those that rely on occult entities such as Reiki, which is highly possible I say it because the doctor you are seeing is obviously not basing his/her practice on scientifically established medicine. If they are resorting to unfounded methods in one area, chances are they are doing it elsewhere, which amounts to offering their patients substandard care.

In addition to this substandard care, they are also leaving their patients without financial recourse in the event of injury because most insurance companies don’t cover unproven therapies. If the patient is hurt, the cost of recovery will come out of their own pocket.

New Agers like to counter this argument with conspiracy theories about how “Big Pharma and allopathic medicine is only out for the money”. Even if this was true, it’s still no excuse for the reluctance on the part of almost all alternative practitioners to subject their methods to scientific scrutiny. Instead, they foist these untested products and services upon an unwitting (and sometimes desperately ill) public, knowing full well that there is not a shred of evidence to back up their claims.

No professional physician should subject their patient’s health (and wealth) to this kind of risk. Even if your doctor isn’t using any of these methods with you, sooner or later, he/she will try to do so, and it could be during a time when you’re genuinely ill and, therefore, vulnerable and more easily persuaded.

The bottom line is that reliance on unproven New Age methods of healing by a practicing physician is plenty good reason to find yourself another doctor. Don’t wait until it’s too late!