Integrative Medicine is based on non-hierarchical organization of healthcare in which each patient is capable of expressing self-healing. These are some of the central principles of a manifesto on Integrative Medicine which was adopted in Florence, Italy in December 2011.
The Manifesto featues prominently during the proceedings at the ongoing Fifth International Congress on Integrative Medicine in Florence. In line with the conference definition, in this article we refer only to the term Integrative rather than the term Integrated used in the manifesto.
May have limited impact
The initiative to formulate the manifesto was hosted by the Italian Society of Homeopathy and Integrative Medicine (SIOMI) and also supposedly supported by stakeholders including the Italian Agency for Pharmaceutics and the Commission of Health and Hygiene of the Senate and the Republic as well as by a number of professional organisations of health care providers.
However, other stakeholders I C has talked to caution that the Manifesto may have limited impact, given the heterogeneity of the Italian system of health care. The regions have a significant degree of autonomy to manage health care together with the State. The Manifesto then must so far be seen as a regional initiative.
Nevertheless, the Manifesto is a powerful document covering many aspects of integrative medicine, including global principles, ethics, organization, legal and philosophical facets.
In the following the different tenets have been included under different headings.
Promotes seamless harmonisation
Integrative Medicine aims to harmonise the roles of all healthcare resources in a seamless manner irrespective of the speciality, the era and the cultural background in which it operates. The main healthcare resources are actually defined as Biomedicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
Assumes joint responsibility
Integrated Medicine addresses the complexity and the wholeness of the individual. It includes the science behind these important issues and assumes joint responsibility for the care and health of the individual. Disease is viewed as a phenomenon that results from many differing factors; the pursuit of health is a priority.
Division obstacle to overcome
Integrative Medicine recognises that the individual is a combination of body, mind and soul as related to his own personal history and to the environment. It considers the current division between various therapeutic models to be an obstacle to be overcome in order to lead to shared care and hence to reciprocal assistance.
Protect freedom of choice
The citizen’s freedom of healthcare choice is a right that should be upheld and protected in the setting also of the physician’s freedom to advise. The personal, cultural and spiritual beliefs of each individual influence his experience and interpretation both of illness and of healing.
Contemplates meaning
Integrative Medicine contemplates the meaning of health and healing and the meaning of illness and treatment. Each patient is both the subject affected by the disease and the person who can express his potential to heal him-/herself when guided and supported properly.
Promotes research
The Manifesto of Integrative Medicine promotes research on the effectiveness and safety of healthcare irrespective of the many and varied approaches to therapeutic practice. The disciplines in the Integrative Medicine model must guarantee proper levels of theory and of practical safety and effectiveness.
Integrates values
Integrative Medicine brings together – integrates – the values expressed by citizens and those professional values of the physician and other healthcare workers in the light of social justice and sustainability in the community.
Creates syncretic forum
Integrative Medicine creates a syncretic forum within the different disciplines in medicine. This is made necessary by the new knowledge achieved in the last few decades about the living organism. The paradigm of Integrated Medicine is based on an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare organization rather than on a hierarchical approach.
Integrative medicine values…
Integrative Medicine values:
The authors of the Manifesto are Simonetta Bernardini, President of SIOMI, The Italian Society of Homeopathy and Integrative Medicine, Ivan Cavicchi, Department of Medical Philosophy and Psychology, Tor Vergata University in Rom, Alfredo Zuppiroli, Head of the Regional Bioethics Committe in Toscana Region, Andrea Dei, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Francesco Macrì, professor, Sapienza University in Rome and Guido Giarelli, associate professor in sociology, medical faculty, University“Magna Græcia” in Catanzaro. All of the signatories are also medical doctors, MDs.
David Finer
