Regarding the article, “May I See Your License,” [Commentary, April 11]: We would like to draw attention to significant inaccuracies in Ms. Bennett’s article. It is our hope that rectifying these factual errors will allow N.C. citizens to better evaluate the content of the legislative bills in question.
The Naturopathic Physician Licensing Act (H.B. 969 and S.B. 1080) does not “require all complementary and alternative health-care practitioners in the state to be licensed,” as Ms. Bennett suggests. Rather, it calls for the creation of a licensing board and standards to help the public identify naturopathic physicians who have attended four-year post-graduate medical schools and passed comprehensive national board exams. The licensing provided by the bill will only affect naturopathic physicians, not any other types of providers. Currently, 14 states license the practice of naturopathic medicine; in none of those states have other types of complementary and alternative health-care practitioners found themselves put out of business.
In fact, the licensing bill explicitly protects the rights of other types of practitioners. Section 90-802b of both Senate and House versions states: “This act recognizes that many of the therapies used by naturopathic physicians, such as the use of nutritional supplements, herbs, foods, homeopathic preparations, and such physical forces as heat, cold, water, touch, and light are not the exclusive privilege of naturopathic physicians. This act does not prohibit the use, practice, or administration of these therapies by a person not licensed or registered to practice naturopathic medicine.”
We encourage your readers to read the full text of both bills at www.ncga.state.nc.us
— Anna Kate Cascio, ND; Steven Coward, ND; Anesia Groves, ND; Eric Lewis, ND; Kristina Lewis, ND
Asheville
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