Deaths after acupuncture: A systematic review

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ernst, E.

Affiliations: Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT, UK Tel.: +44 (0)1392 424989; Fax: +44 (0)1392 427562; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Context: Several fatalities after acupuncture have been reported. But no critical analysis of these data is currently available. Objective: This systematic review is aimed at summarizing these reports and putting them into a broader context. Data sources: Four electronic databases and my own files were searched for such reports. No restrictions in terms of language or time were imposed. Study selection: Case reports, case series and other types of articles reporting fatalities were considered. Data extraction: Key data were extracted according to pre-defined criteria. Results: Reports of 86 deaths after acupuncture were found. Many are incomplete and causality may therefore be occasionally uncertain. Due to under-reporting, these reports are likely to merely describe the tip of a larger iceberg. Conclusion: Acupuncture has been associated with numerous deaths. These fatalities are avoidable and a reminder of the need to insist on adequate training for all acupuncturists.

Keywords: Acupuncture, risks, harm, death, alternative medicine, evidence

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-2010-0503

Journal: International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 131-136, 2010