Alberta gives naturopaths full status as medical professionals

[Amadeus89]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-gives-naturopaths-full-status-as-medical-professionals/article4441076/

 

July 25, 2012

 

Alberta has beefed up the powers of its naturopathic doctors, giving them full status as medical professionals but stopping short of funding treatment.

 

The move – chiefly, the creation of a College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta – allows the profession to self-regulate and weed out those who don’t meet certain standards.

 

It will likely mean more private health plans will cover naturopathic treatment, Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne said, and will allow patients to claim receipts as medical expenses on tax returns.

 

As part of the deal, which comes after 14 years of negotiation, the province’s 144 naturopaths have agreed to a list of services they’re not authorized to provide.

 

Alberta is the fifth province to elevate naturopaths to professional status by creating a college.

 

“It is a very significant milestone for this profession, and a recognition of the knowledge and skills that members of the association bring to their work,” Mr. Horne said Wednesday, speaking at a central Edmonton naturopath clinic. “...It also reflects the recognition a growing number of Albertans give to the services provided by naturopathic doctors.”

 

Mr. Horne said the move will help Albertans be sure they’ll get quality care. Previously, the now-defunct association of naturopaths, founded in 1944, had no recourse to discipline unqualified people who were practicing as naturopaths.

 

“We have done this because we want Albertans to feel as secure in the education, competency and skills of practitioners to perform naturopathic services as they feel when they visit a medical doctor or medical service, a dentist or dental service, or any other regulated profession,” Mr. Horne said, adding he once visited a naturopath himself, albeit “years and years ago.”

 

The move was celebrated by the profession.

 

“This is an amazing day for naturopathic doctors,” said Kim Lena, a naturopath who hosted Mr. Horne’s announcement.

 

They’ll be allowed to perform injections; minor surgeries, such as wart removal; ear exams; and, with additional training, other procedures such as the use of some intravenous treatments.

 

They can’t prescribe drugs or order x-rays.

 

The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons was among other professional groups consulted about the change, and supports it. “Regulating naturopathy will help protect the public and ensure consistent standards and quality – and that’s positive for the profession and for patients,” spokesperson Kelly Eby said in an e-mail.

 

At minimum, naturopaths take three years of “pre-medical education” before a four year accredited professional program.

 

“We offer Albertans a distinct system of primary care that is an art, a science, a philosophy and a practice of diagnosis and assessment, treatment and intervention of illness,” said Allissa Gaul, an Alberta naturopath who averages 600 new patients a year and will serve as the college’s first president. Naturopaths typically focus on wellness, dietary concerns and herbal or homeopathic treatments, she said.

 

Asked whether the move legitimises a profession with far less stringent educational requirements than traditional medicine – you don’t need to go to medical school to be a naturopath – Mr. Horne said it’s the government’s priority to protect the public by regulating each profession, not pick sides.

 

“We’re not here to endorse any particular philosophy or form of treatment,” Mr. Horne said, noting there are two dozen health professions, including acupuncture and massage therapy, with the same status.

 

Marilyn Dusener, 52, attended the announcement. She began seeing a naturopath two-and-a-half years ago. The treatments have worked, she said, and she applauded the announcement.

 

“It’s recognition that it’s a legitimate field, a legitimate practice and it should be recognized just as much as a medical doctor,” she said, adding she hopes it will one day be funded. Her visits cost about $170, one-third of which is covered by her employer’s health plan. “It’s a commitment” to visit a naturopath without coverage, she said.

 

Mr. Horne balked, though, when asked whether the province would now consider funding treatment.

 

“Well, not in the immediate term,” he said.

 

-------

 

Discuss? Do not like the direction health care is headed.

[Lactic Folly]

This reminds me: what was the aftermath of Bill 41 (affecting health professionals' self regulation)? Albertans or anyone in the know?

 

http://www.canadianmedicinenews.com/2007/12/alberta-passes-bill-41-despite-doctors.html

[questforstarfish]

I'm so glad to see this. Not everyone wants or requires the same kind of health care, and making more and more available to people while making it more financially accessible is important. I think it's a step in the right direction, go Alberta!

[The Ace of Spades]

I'm so glad to see this. Not everyone wants or requires the same kind of health care, and making more and more available to people while making it more financially accessible is important. I think it's a step in the right direction, go Alberta!

 

Really? You agree with the legitimization of naturopathy? Need I remind you that this has already happened in BC: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31735

[leviathan]

Providing a regulatory college is different from granting them prescription rights and ability to order requisitions for imaging/labs. BC did the latter which is concerning to most people.

[Amadeus89]

"They’ll be allowed to perform injections; minor surgeries, such as wart removal; ear exams; and, with additional training, other procedures such as the use of some intravenous treatments."

 

No Rx rights or ordering labs, but this is some pretty serious stuff still!!

[markmendez]

WOW! I should share this to my friends...

[Icebox]

"With proper training, naturopaths can perform Pap smears and rectal or prostate exams. If a Pap smear comes back slightly abnormal but non-cancerous, naturopaths may choose to treat with herbs or applications to the cervix rather than do an immediate cell biopsy, said Allissa Gaul, president of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta who has practised for 14 years — as long as the specialists have worked to become self-regulated."

 

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Alberta+government+poised+unveil+regulations+naturopaths/6988151/story.html

[seeking1]

This may end up being a curse in diguise for them. Self-regulation means they need to start developing centralized policies, and those policies may end up under review by the government or insurers.

 

If there is any one great thing about insurers, its how quickly they are willing to stop paying money for procedures once they realize how weak the policies and evidence are for a given procedure.

[thebouque]

"With proper training, naturopaths can perform Pap smears and rectal or prostate exams. If a Pap smear comes back slightly abnormal but non-cancerous, naturopaths may choose to treat with herbs or applications to the cervix rather than do an immediate cell biopsy, said Allissa Gaul, president of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta who has practised for 14 years — as long as the specialists have worked to become self-regulated."

 

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Alberta+government+poised+unveil+regulations+naturopaths/6988151/story.html

 

This article is misleading because it doesn't define ''abnormal but non cancerous''. I think that if a biopsy is warranted (HSIL, repeated ASCUS or ASCUS + HPV DNA over 30 etc), they'll have to send the patient to a colpo clinic. If the pap smear comes back ''slightly'' abnormal, ie LSIL, then yeah, I think they could treat it with herbs and control. Watchful waiting does exist in normal medicine ! If you observe an LSIL, then you might as well try to treat it with herbs (ie a placebo). It's just too bad for the patient's wallet but hey, Freud said that paying was part of the healing process.

[bored]

"They’ll be allowed to perform injections; minor surgeries, such as wart removal; ear exams; and, with additional training, other procedures such as the use of some intravenous treatments."

 

No Rx rights or ordering labs, but this is some pretty serious stuff still!!

 

 

Nothing wrong with it, I think it's great.

[Robin Hood]

How can you trust a health provider who'se practice has not been scientifically verified?

[Davjw]

I don't like the suggested legitimacy that comes from decisions like this.

[Icebox]

This article is misleading because it doesn't define ''abnormal but non cancerous''. I think that if a biopsy is warranted (HSIL, repeated ASCUS or ASCUS + HPV DNA over 30 etc), they'll have to send the patient to a colpo clinic. If the pap smear comes back ''slightly'' abnormal, ie LSIL, then yeah, I think they could treat it with herbs and control. Watchful waiting does exist in normal medicine ! If you observe an LSIL, then you might as well try to treat it with herbs (ie a placebo). It's just too bad for the patient's wallet but hey, Freud said that paying was part of the healing process.

 

HSIL = 1% chance of invasive cancer. So what if a naturopath decides that's low risk to them?

[bored]

How can you trust a health provider who'se practice has not been scientifically verified?

 

why not let the consumers decide who they want to go to and which services they want to use instead of forcing down something on them.

[Robin Hood]

why not let the consumers decide who they want to go to and which services they want to use instead of forcing down something on them.

 

A lot of consumers are too ignorant to make the right decision and get fooled by charlatans, and in the process, end up harming themeselves and others.

[thebouque]

HSIL = 1% chance of invasive cancer. So what if a naturopath decides that's low risk to them?

 

Hopefully it won't be up to them to decide.

[NLengr]

"With proper training, naturopaths can perform Pap smears and rectal or prostate exams. If a Pap smear comes back slightly abnormal but non-cancerous, naturopaths may choose to treat with herbs or applications to the cervix rather than do an immediate cell biopsy, said Allissa Gaul, president of the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta who has practised for 14 years — as long as the specialists have worked to become self-regulated."

 

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Alberta+government+poised+unveil+regulations+naturopaths/6988151/story.html

 

I enjoy evidence-less based medicine.

[Starhivest]

What atomsmasher said in another thread, MDs should be donating a small portion of their income to keep those 2-bit politicians in their pockets. Why not take advantage of legalized bribery and lobby for MD-friendly policies more often?

[Mourning Cloak]

This is key:

 

The Alberta government does not cover costs of naturopathic medicine.

 

A fool and his money . . . .

[NLengr]

why not let the consumers decide who they want to go to and which services they want to use instead of forcing down something on them.

 

I've seen more than a few patients die because they were led astray by some greasy naturopath who convinced them to treat their cancer with herbs and other nonsense, rather than conventional medicine.

 

Quite simply, the general public doesn't have the knowledge base to avoid getting duped. The problem is, when you get duped, you get sick or die. It's not like you were tricked into buying a knock off Rolex.

[Madz25]

Everyone goes on their little airy fairy "natural medicine" path when everything is fine and dandy. But when sh*t really hits the fan they all come running to the emerg dept - when often it's too late.

[bored]

I've seen more than a few patients die because they were led astray by some greasy naturopath who convinced them to treat their cancer with herbs and other nonsense, rather than conventional medicine.

 

Quite simply, the general public doesn't have the knowledge base to avoid getting duped. The problem is, when you get duped, you get sick or die. It's not like you were tricked into buying a knock off Rolex.

 

I don't see how something that's being used in eastern civilizations for hundreds if not thousands of years is going to be so bad that we should work our asses of to get it banned.

 

Btw, I am referring to homeopathy. Not sure how it differs with this.

[A-Stark]

Homeopathy has nothing to do with "eastern civilizations" and dates from the 19th century. It was invented by Samuel Hahneman and is based purely on entirely spurious and unfounded concepts. There is absolutely no chemical or physical basis for any kind of homeopathic remedy.

 

Anyway, Mitchell and Webb said it a lot better:

[bored]

Homeopathy has nothing to do with "eastern civilizations" and dates from the 19th century. It was invented by Samuel Hahneman and is based purely on entirely spurious and unfounded concepts. There is absolutely no chemical or physical basis for any kind of homeopathic remedy.

 

Anyway, Mitchell and Webb said it a lot better:

 

funny video