Communities That Work Together and Support Each Other Thrive

Communities that work together and engage with each other, create a corner stone of stability that allows the area to thrive. One of the six pillars for a thriving community is education. As part of The Dandelion Moon CIC I want to improve education around complementary therapies and provide a environment where people are making truly informed health choices.

The Definition of Informed Consent.

In terms of research Informed Consent is quite rigorous the participant is expected to have time to reflect on the decision and the information provided before signing. In medical terminology Informed consent means that sufficient evidence based information must be provided to the person to enable them to make a balanced and informed decision about their care and treatment. As well as a general explanation of the procedure there is also a duty to explain the risks inherent in the procedure and the risks inherent in refusing the procedure. Information must also be provided regarding alternatives to the proposed intervention (RCN,2025).

Alternatives What Alternatives?

The interesting bit for me is the final sentence

“Information must also be provided regarding alternatives to the proposed intervention “

Think back to your last procedure or prescription or intervention before you agreed were you given any options to what was done? Did you feel that you could say NO?

The Legal Underpinning of Informed Consent

The legal context is ever evolving. Judicial reviews and rulings by the Supreme Court mean that the need for “informed consent” is a legal requirement – see Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC. (RCN,2025).

Do you know what is on offer?

If you do not understand what is available in your local area and have considered if its appropriate to your needs how are you making an informed choice?

Lets Collaborate and Help Make a Difference

This community would be united by values that reflect the essence of complementary therapies and holistic health.

Am I right in assuming that you are like me and you entered a health based profession because you wanted to help people, you wanted to make a difference? As a human being do you have a purpose? Do you want to make a difference? The first step that I would like to initiate is the sharing of knowledge, if you know of a therapist or you are a complementary or alternative health therapist that is interested in collaborating in building a better environment that supports everybody being able to make healthy choices that are fully informed then please contact me with the details and I will place the business name and location on my Complementary Therapist Collaborative Map.

What are included in Complementary Therapies and Alternative Therapies – the list is not exhaustive?

Example of a Complementary Therapy:

Imagine someone recovering from surgery for a knee injury. Alongside their conventional treatment, like physiotherapy and prescribed pain medication, they use acupuncture to manage post-surgical pain and promote relaxation. This works in harmony with their standard medical care to support their recovery.

Example of a Alternative Therapy:

Now, picture someone with persistent migraines who opts to use homeopathy or herbal remedies as their sole approach to treatment, without consulting a traditional system doctor or using mainstream treatments like painkillers or migraine medication. In this case, the alternative therapy completely replaces conventional medical options.

Final Point

I will be running some drop in sessions at Liskeard Hive starting with the complementary therapies that I offer – check out the hives bookshelf library of useful books that might help you make informed choices. As a end user – come along and share your thoughts – if you are a therapist are you interested in sharing an hour of your time to share your knowledge.