Natural Health Practitioners Endangered in DC

[Rufassa]

I received this email from the Washington Health Institute in DC. I don't live in DC but this maybe my\your area soon.


Dear Clients and Consumers of Natural Health,

Your ability to obtain services from your traditional Naturopath in the District is under attack!

Recently a bill repealing registration of professionals who practice the traditional and original/classic methods of naturopathy was passed by the DC City Council and signed into law by Mayor Adrian Fenty. The hearing for the bill was held with short notice, registered naturopathic professionals and consumers were not actively notified of the bill or encouraged to testify. Only licensed pseudo-medicalist naturopaths testified in support of repealing the registration. It has now been sent to congress for review.

We must let legislators know that this bill denies consumers natural care of their choice. We must express opposition to this bill now, otherwise the bill will be approved and go into effect on July 6, 2009. There are several ways in which you can help stop this bill:

- Let Congress know you oppose this bill - Contact members of the House Government and Reform Committee, especially Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Chris Van Hollen (MD,) and Gerry Connolly (VA). Attached you will find a complete list of committee members. Contact by fax, telephone or e-mail.

-Contact Mayor Fenty - Ask the Mayor to reconsider and recall the bill. Contact the Mayor if you receive natural health services, offer natural health services, or reside in DC. Attached you will find Mayor Fenty’s information.

-Contact DC City Council Members - Ask council members to reconsider and recall the bill. Contact the council members if you receive natural health services, offer natural health services, or reside in DC. Attached you will find city council information.

-Phone and fax letters to Members of Congress, DC City Council Members and the Mayor. Let legislators know that consumers will be denied the natural health care of their choice.

Attached are sample letters to the legislators that will help with your letter writing.

We appreciate your support.

Thank you,

Victoria Goldsten
Director

[fruitandveggies]

What does "registration" for professionals mean? Do you have to be registered with something to practice healing techniques as a profession? If this happens, I am truly SCREWED!

[Gaius]

Government fails at everything.

[Rufassa]

There are a lot of little laws like this that give an unfair, or even absolute, advantage to the medical establishment. i.e. In Memphis Mid-Wives are not allowed in hospitals. As they continue to add more and more of these they will eventually strip us of our right to professional treatment from anyone who doesn’t follow guidelines approved by the AMA.

The second danger is that these “not so alternative” alternative practitioners will start to be more prevalent than those that truly know natural medicine. i.e. A MD-like “Naturopath” who only differs from a real MD in his ability to prescribe medicine. The letter seems to imply that these are the type of practitioners that were invited to the hearings.

[Gaius]

Government always works with the cartels such as the medical establishment to destroy people's freedom of choice, along with with their well-being.

[spicyfull]

Thanks for Sharing.

[fruitandveggies]

I'm about to cry about this. *goes to write letter*