The just-passed resolution recognizes naturopathy as "safe, effective, affordable health care" and specifically recognizes the value of ND's in preventing disease. (ND's are currently licensed in 17 states, more to come.) It also designates a week for Naturopathic Medicine---Oct 7-13 this year.

Senate Passes Naturopathic Medicine Week Resolution
The U.S. Senate last night unanimously passed a resolution designating October 7 - October 13 as Naturopathic Medicine Week.

The resolution recognizes the value of naturopathic medicine in providing "safe, effective, and affordable health care..." and encourages Americans to learn about the role of naturopathic physicians in preventing chronic and debilitating conditions.

Passage of this resolution is an historic achievement for naturopathic medicine. The Congress has now officially recognized the important role naturopathic medicine plays in effectively addressing the nation's health care needs as well as in addressing the increasingly severe shortage of primary care physicians.

SOURCE
http://naturopathic.org/naturopathicmedicineweek
Not exactly big news:
I searched google news for "naturopathic medicine senate" today 9/11/13 and got NADA.

Apparently 39/50 states have laws protecting the licensed apologizer. To find out if you are safe to say you're sorry, google your state name and "apology law". Here in Oregon, licensed medical practitioners may express regret and make direct apologies when it feels right. I am glad. I want to be able to communicate openly with my patients, and not to feel that I am constrained by risk of liability. If I make a mistake I'd rather talk it through than clam up in fear.

There is a neverending discussion in the medical world about malpractice suits. Doctors who take the time to talk to their patients, and actually care and connect, are not the ones who get sued. Hurried docs who treat the patients as unimportant are the ones who earn malpractice suits from regular people. Of course there are exceptions. There are a few patients who simply wander through life looking for someone to sue; you can't do anything about them except pass them on, and not to a good friend...

MORE INFO
http://mississippimedicalnews.com/legal-perspective-the-ongoing-debate-over-apology-laws-cms-959
( The Oregon lawCollapse )

The old code was a restatement of the naturopathic treatment principles. The new code more explicitly addresses the issues which could affect our licensing. I like it that the new code specifies that we shall not give remedies without explaining what's in them. If only conventional physicians would do the same.

( The new Code of EthicsCollapse )

There's a licensing bill working its way through the state senate right now.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/sb0180.htm
http://www.mdanp.org/

I've started creating a naturopathic "black book" in which I'm compiling diagnostic and treatment information for the conditions which come up in the course of my clinical education. This project eats all of my free time. Medicine is, for me at least, an infinite subject. I'm near the end of this education. I feel the need to make some decisions about how I will practice. What will MY protocols be? What will my treatment hierarchy be? When and to whom will I refer? I'm also considering how I will practice when in a state where I can legally practice medicine and prescribe pharmaceutical medications, as versus when I am in an "unlicensed state" and must not diagnose or prescribe. I'm sorting among the opinions of a great many doctors, doing the research to decide what I will do, and keeping those notes off this record. It just wouldn't be right to give away naturopathic trade secrets online. Though the astute reader can deduce a great deal about the field from the four years of assorted notes I have posted here.

I'm not going to get involved in this fight among alternative practitioners, but the struggle for scope of practice is continuous. Naturopathic medicine is in effect the natural health practitioners left behind when chiropractic gained wide acceptance and licensing. The history is ugly, with practitioners ganging up on and deserting each other, everybody seeking recognition and respect.

I am currently studying under a chiropractor who uses "dry needling". I also have shadowed several acupuncturists (who are also ND's) and from what I have seen, I could probably do some therapeutic needling myself, but I do not intend to do so. I will refer to a local acupuncturist when I believe that a condition will respond to needling, but not because I believe in the whole Chinese medicine system of channels and energy. I will do it because I believe in the science.

The OAAOM has filed a legal challenge in the Court of Appeals against the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners' rule OAR 811-015-0036 that chiropractors can perform "dry needling" with only 24 hours of education. An injunction to stay the rule until the legal challenge is heard (3-6 months) was also filed.

The Court of Appeals Appellate Commissioner issued a Stay Order dated July 29, 2011, which suspends the new rule until the issue is resolved by a full panel of judges after hearing a full presentation of the arguments.

Total legal cost is estimated at $30,000. We (OAAOM) are represented by Landye Bennett Blumstein with Thane Tienson as our lawyer.

*new tags: chiropractic, acupuncture

Dear Supporters of Naturopathic Medicine,

Please take a moment to let your state legislators know you support HJ 124 (http://www.capwiz.com/naturopathic/issues/alert/?alertid=14687606).
It should take less than 90 seconds.
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