Re: Getting tough on alternative medicine

[Guest guest]

This is horrible!!!! People should get outraged at the loss of our medical

freedoms, yes there are quacks out there, but why don't they go after the

ones in the " establishment " too???

His quote: " We have seen doctors over the years who are using methods of

treatment that we feel are totally inappropriate, "

That isn't scientific based when " we feel " is used--that is just " I don't

think it is right, so you can't do it " mentality.

This is so sickening and people think " they'll take care of us " --wake up!!!

This is the loss of our basic freedom in the USA to choose treatment and for

doctors too. Many are persecuted. Grrr.

<< http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_00/prsa0918.htm

Getting tough on alternative medicine

State medical boards continue to look at ways to guide -- and in some cases

regulate -- the practice of complementary medicine.

By Jay Greene, AMNews staff. Sept. 18, 2000. Additional information

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Kirk W. , MD, injected one of his patients with hydrogen peroxide to

treat what he had diagnosed as silicone leakage, Candida infection and lupus

erythematosus.

S. Kiteck, MD, treated several patients with thyroid preparations

for what the medical board in Kentucky concluded appeared to be euthyroid

conditions. When hyperthyroid conditions developed, Dr. Kiteck gave his

patients injections of B-complex vitamins, B-12 and magnesium solutions.

After complaints were filed, both doctors were placed on probation. Those

complaints, along with three others for inappropriate use of chelation for

cardiovascular conditions, led the Kentucky Medical Licensure Board in 1998

to create the first board policy on complementary care.

Now, more than 10 other states have approved or are considering licensure

regulations governing complementary and alternative medicine, mostly in an

effort to ferret out consumer fraud. Medical boards in Alabama, Illinois,

Kentucky and Texas are among those who have developed guidelines to educate

doctors.

" We have seen doctors over the years who are using methods of treatment that

we feel are totally inappropriate, " said Danny , MD, president of the

Kentucky medical board. " They tell us there are natural ways to treat their

patients. We don't discipline doctors for using alternative medicine. We

discipline them for practicing bad medicine. "

Boards develop policies

In Tennessee, the medical board in July approved a prohibition on chelation

therapy for conditions other than heavy metal poisoning, said Starnes,

MD, board president.

" We have been approached by a person asking to study chelation in a

community setting, " Dr. Starnes said. " I am willing to talk about it, but we

want to try to get an academic setting involved. There have been some

nonreferreed studies showing some benefit and anecdotal evidence showing

harm, but there hasn't been a strict study to show benefits. "

The Tennessee regulation bans chelation therapy unless it is part of an

approved clinical investigation or until evidence proves the treatment is

beneficial.

In Texas, the medical board in 1998 adopted standards for physicians

practicing integrative and complementary medicine that include a customized

informed consent form. The policy allows doctors latitude in offering

therapies to patients if standards of good practice are followed, said Texas

State Board of Medical Examiners spokeswoman Jill Wiggins.

Like all boards, Texas reminds doctors they should evaluate patients and

document the assessment in charts. " Such a documented treatment plan shall

consider pertinent medical history, previous medical records and physical

examination, as well as the need for further testing, consultations,

referrals or the use of other treatment modalities, " the board said.

Too tough?

But legislative actions proposed by boards to govern alternative medicine

also have failed. In North Carolina this year, a bill that would have made it

a felony to offer treatments that injure the public didn't make it out of a

legislative committee.

Supporters of the bill pointed to the death of an 8-year-old girl with

diabetes. Her parents discontinued her insulin injections on the advice of a

man claiming to be a naturopath. The man, ce N. , awaits trial on

charges of manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license -- a

misdemeanor.

" We need a tough bill because we are seeing health care revert back to where

the public is in a 'buyer beware' situation, " said Watrey, executive

director of the North Carolina Medical Board. " If a doctor is practicing

forms of alternative medicine that are not harmful, then the board will not

revoke or deny a license. But if competent evidence indicates the treatment

has a safety risk, then we want additional criminal penalties for

practitioners and the right to impose fines. "

To help boards deal with the issue of acceptable medicine in integrative

practices, the Federation of State Medical Boards is developing model

guidelines. The guidelines will outline physician responsibilities when

co-managing patients with licensed alternative health care providers.

" Boards should wrestle with this and develop policies and be willing to

change those policies as alternative and complementary medicine evolves and

new research comes out, " said Swikert, MD, a member of the Kentucky

medical board who also served on a state task force that studied alternative

medicine.

Some states also are considering bills to expand the use of alternative

medicine. In California, a proposed bill would allow physicians to practice

alternative cancer therapies alongside conventional treatment. Food and Drug

Administration policy requires cancer patients to undergo chemotherapy and

radiation before receiving alternative treatments.

" We do not believe it is appropriate to allow doctors to use alternative

cancer treatments " before a state task force studies the issue, said

Whitney, chief of legislation with the Medical Board of California. " We

license and discipline doctors. We don't get into the therapies they use. "

But the bill also would require the medical board to conduct a comprehensive

study on alternative medicine and develop guidelines for physicians who

integrate complementary medicine into their practices.

" We are already working on guidelines for doctors, " Whitney said. " We have

problems with doing the study because we don't think we are the appropriate

agency to do that. "

Kentucky's 1998 policy describes various complementary and alternative

medicine treatments as invalidated, nonvalidated or validated.

But unlike Illinois, which actually categorized such treatments that way,

Kentucky wanted to wait until more definitive research proves or disproves

unconventional therapies.

In its policy, Kentucky listed more than 25 therapies that could fall into

any category. They include homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture,

aromatherapy, art therapy, biofeedback, body work, botanicals, herbs,

hypnosis, light therapy, magnetic stimulation, music therapy, nutrition,

traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, supplements, chelation, massages and

reflexotherapy.

" We did not lump the therapies into categories because research is just

starting to address these treatments, " said Dr. . " As studies come out,

we will be able to decide if these methods have any validity. "

Meanwhile, Dr. said the guidelines give physicians information to

consider.

" When I give lectures on the board policy, some physicians don't feel we

went far enough and others think I am a heretic and went too far, " Dr.

Swikert said.

" We want to promote responsible use of complementary medicine. "

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