Freedom of Choice

Dear Honourable Minister Smitherman,

I appreciate the monumental task you have undertaken to ensure public safety in the health care system for the citizens of Ontario.  Not withstanding that, we are writing to indicate our grave concern regarding Bill 171, Section P, dealing selectively with establishing new colleges in Naturopathy and Homeopathy.

In its present form, the Bill excludes other highly educated and qualified Natural Health Practitioners giving dominance to the Ontario Naturopaths.  While not detracting from your good work, and perhaps because of misinformation, a significant portion of the Natural Health community has been excluded.  We are therefore offering this information in an attempt to redress the balance, which is to consider the needs of all Natural Health Practitioners and ensure public choice and protection.

The first Natural Medicine (Nature’s Medicine Practitioners) began in 1902 and has developed into a full fledged comprehensive training program that consists of an undergraduate degree and 4000 hours of post graduate training for the Doctor of Natural Medicine designation which is recognized and accredited by the American Naturopathic Association, the American Naturopathic Medical Association, The World Organization of Natural Medicine Practitioners and International Parliament for Safety and Peace. The Practitioner level has post secondary education of 1000-2000+ hours of Natural Health training. Over time, our numbers have grown to well over 1000 registered practicing Natural Health Practitioners in Ontario, who have been working safely with a large percentage of the public.

We wish to indicate when speaking to the efficacy of our treatments, the statement that HPRAC in November of 2005 stated, “Alternative Medicine is the new mainstream”. According to their statistics, one in four people were attending Natural Health Practitioners, not including those visiting chiropractors. It is we, the Doctors and Practitioners of Natural Medicine that are referred to in this report.

We are concerned that Bill 171 exclusively assigns titles and scopes of practices that are presently shared by other overlap long standing Natural Health Practitioners and their various modalities including but not limited to nutrition, herbalism, non-manipulative body work etc. Therefore from our perspective, it is inappropriate to continue this Bill in its current form, and we ask to participate in any decision process with respect to this proposed regulation.

For your initial consideration we offer the following suggestions:

1. Create a Bill that has inclusivity by ensuring that all stake holders are at the table.
2. Ensuring transparency by an accurate and open exchange to all the stakeholders.
3. Establish a level playing field such that economic disadvantage will not be a deterrent to sharing information and inclusion.
4. Amend the “Drugless Practitioners Act” to include all unregulated natural health practitioners with a time lined corresponding regulatory process
5. Clearly define the scope of practice of Modern Naturopath and remove all clauses for exclusive use of natural remedies under the Natural Health Product Act.

 

These suggestions are based on the belief that the government should be safeguarding these unregulated health professions and modalities, ensuring their healthy co-existence and practicing rights-until such time that they can be considered for their health care contributions and systematically integrated.

In conclusion, the senior leadership of Ontario Natural Medicine Practitioners Association (ONMPA) and members are requesting an immediate meeting with the Minister of Health and his representatives to discuss these concerns for the continuing practice of Natural Medicine and the implications for the citizens of Ontario, present and future.

We further respectfully request inclusion in any meetings, plenaries and discussions with respect to this Bill.

 

Yours sincerely,

You’re Name, address and email
Date:
The Honorable (Name)
(Possible street address)
postal code and Email address
Re:  Bill #171 Regulation of Naturopathy and Homeopathy
Dear (Representative):
My name is (Name) and I live and practice in Province of Ontario. I am writing to urge you to vote against Bill 171 in its present format.
This bill  will take my right to practice as a Doctor of (nature’s) Natural Medicine or Practitioner of (Nature’s)Natural Medicine, deprive me of fair trade in the market place and is bordering on impeding by rights under the Charter of Rights:

• My practice involves educating my clients on the use of natural modalities, including but not limited to fresh air, clean water, good diet and exercise to attain a healthier body.
• I do not diagnose or treat disease and I represent the majority of practicing traditional Natural Medicine Practitioners.
• While “Modern Naturopaths” seeks to diagnose, dispense drugs, or perform surgery as set out in the legislation in question. Traditional Natural Medicine practitioners strongly oppose to such scope of practice under natural medicine.
•  Create a Bill that has inclusivity by ensuring that all stake holders are at the table.
• Ensuring transparency by an accurate and open exchange to all the stakeholders.
• Establish a level playing field such that economic disadvantage will not be a deterrent to sharing information and inclusion.
• Clearly define the scope of practice of “Modern Medical Naturopaths” and remove all clauses for exclusive use of natural remedies under the Natural Health Product Act.
• (Bill #) would take away my right to practice natural healthcare and prevent me from earning a living.
• Please protect the public from “Naturopaths” group seeking "Medical" scope of practice without medical training.

Thank you for considering a (Yes/no) vote on (Bill #171).
Sincerely, (or any salutation you want here)
(Signature)
Your name and address

You’re Name, address and email
Date:
The Honorable (Name)
MMP address
(Possible street address)
(City) Postal code
Email address
Re: Bill #?
Dear (Representative):
My name is (Name) and I live and practice in Province of Ontario. I am writing to urge you to vote against Bill 171 in its present format.
I am a Traditional Doctor/ Practitioner of (Nature’s) Natural Medicine
My practice involves education of my clients on using natural modalities, including but not limited to fresh air, clean water, good diet, exercise, nutrition, herbal remedies, and non-manipulative body work to attain a healthier body. I do not diagnose or treat disease and I represent the majority of practicing traditional DNM-Doctors (of Nature’s) Natural Medicine and PNM- traditional Practitioners of (Nature’s) Natural Medicine).Natural Medicine Practitioners does not or  have any desire of  engaging in diagnosing, dispensing drugs, or performing surgeries as set out in the legislation in question for modern. “Naturopathic Doctors”. It is my strong convection that; diagnosing, dispensing drugs, or performing surgeries should be done only by licensed, trained   and competent medical professionals. The public must be protected from groups or group seeking medical scope of practice for “Modern Naturopaths”. In addition please remove all exclusivity for remedies under the Natural Health Product Act, from modern naturopath’s scope or practice. I subscribe to the Hippocratic Oath "First do no harm" and I intend to do just that. Please do not take away my right to practice as a Natural Medicine practitioner because of a few untrained want to be "doctors" that want the right to practice as equals to M.D.’s.
Thank you for considering a "NO" vote on (Bill #171).

Sincerely, (or any salutation you want here)
(Signature)
Your name and address 

Sample for advertising on your business card or other advertising material

Sample #1
John Blue, DNM
Doctor of Nature’s Medicine
BNMDP-NA/NMCC Member

Sample #2
Jane Blue, DNM
Traditional Doctor of Nature’s Medicine
BNMDP-NA/NMCC Member

Sample #3
Jane Blue, R-NMP
Traditional Natural Medicine Practitioner
BNMDP-NA/NMCC Member

Sample #4
Jane Blue, CNP
Certified Naturotherapy Practitioner
BNMDP-NA/NMCC member

*There are some individuals and their organization that seek to intimidate others within natural medicine community by claiming exclusive rights to DNM titles which is absolutely false.