UK Regulation - Protection of the name 'Acupuncturist'

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

Below is a section i cut from the article titled 'Regulation of

herbal medicine and acupuncture. Proposals for statutory

regulation', published by the NHS (UK), which proposes the different

names for 'our' field. As you can see in point ii, western medical

practitioners (MDs) will be allowed to be called

acupuncturists.

 

i) Acupuncturist (traditional acupuncture)

ii) Acupuncturist (Western medical acupuncture)

iii) Acupuncturist (auricular acupuncture)

iv) Herbal practitioner (Western herbal medicine)

v) Herbal practitioner (Chinese herbal medicine)

vi) Herbal practitioner (Ayurvedic medicine)

vii) Herbal practitioner (Tibetan herbal medicine)

viii) Herbal practitioner (Kampo)

ix) Traditional Practitioner (herbal medicine and

acupuncture)

x) Traditional Practitioner (herbal medicine)

xi) Traditional Practitioner (acupuncture)

 

I fell this is totally unacceptable. A MD can undergo a weekend

course and be called an acupuncturist and so practice `acupuncture'

is totally wrong.

 

For all of you who want to complain against this future legislation

of a protected name, send an email to HM-AC-Cons and

answer this question given below the list with a sounding NO!

 

Q7: Do you agree with the suggested subsidiary designations listed

in paragraph 33? If you do not agree, what alternative subsidiary

designations would you suggest?

 

My answer to Q7: Western medical professionals (point ii), i.e. MDs

should not be allowed to use the name acupuncturist unless they have

completed a minimum 3 year program in solely TCM.

 

Attilio