I vaz reading Rav Usher Viess' Minchas Usher [that's how he speaks, he's chassidish:-)] on parshis becheekosai and he discusses alternative medicine and whether vone may be mechalel shabbos for a dangerously ill person in order to obtain such medicine [his answer is "no"].

I was then reminded of this lecture by a Talmid Chochom and Biology Professor.