THEY DID IT!!!!!
 

It was just a matter of time until the peoples wishes would be implemented. There is a wind of changes not only by some states but nationally in regards to alternative medicine in the Unites States.

When are we going to make these changes in Canada????

When will it be our turn?????

It has been said that you can delay progress but it can not be stopped. Our neighbours south of the border must be congradulated for passing bill SB577 in California and Minnesota  passed a similar bill, Minnesota's Health Care Freedom Bill  (Minnesota Statutes 2000, Chapter 146A.) May 11, 2000.

There are several groups as well as individuals in the USA fighting for their rights, they must be congratulated for putting time, effort and yes a lot of money in achieving their goals of being able to access the alternative healing of their choice.

I think it's time that we Canadians take a look at our health care system, and find ways to help it be more effective and efficient, by allowing people to choose the alternative and complementary health care of their choice. Who knows, it may prevent future health conditions in Canadians???. It may reduce the waiting lists for services which get worse every year, and reduce the amount of dollars used to treat illnesses. 

Here are the highlights of the California Senate Bill SB577  section 1:
 

SECTION 1.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Based upon a comprehensive report by the National Institute of Medicine and other studies, including a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, it is evident that millions of Californians, perhaps more than five million, are presently receiving a substantial volume of health care services from complementaryand alternative health care practitioners. Those studies further indicate that individuals utilizing complementary and alternative health care services cut across a wide variety of age, ethnic, socioeconomic, and other demographic categories.

(b) Notwithstanding the widespread utilization of complementary and alternative medical services by Californians, the provision of many of these services may be in technical violation of the Medical Practice Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code). Complementary and alternative health care practitioners could therefore be subject to fines, penalties, and the restriction of their practice under the Medical Practice Act even though there is no demonstration that their practices are harmful to the public.

(c) The Legislature intends, by enactment of this act, to allow access by California residents to complementary and alternative health care practitioners who are not providing services that require medical training and credentials. The Legislature further finds that these nonmedical complementary and alternative services do not pose a known risk to the health and safety of California residents, and that restricting access to those services due to technical violations of the Medical Practice Act is not warranted.

SB577 will become effective January 1, 2003.
 
 

Here are the highlights of the Minnesota's Health Care Freedom Bill 
 
 

May 30, 2000 
Minnesota's Health Care Freedom Bill Signed into Law

In a world looking for freedom of access to alternative health care, Minnesota has found an answer. On May 11th, Governor Jesse Ventura signed the Complementary and Alternative Health Care Freedom of Access bill into law. With that signing, Minnesota protected freedom of access to health care as a basic freedom that people enjoy, along with freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Few choices are so fundamental and important as is the choice of how we shall recover from illness or improve health. 

Freedom of Access
The successful reform caps a grassroots campaign, waged over several years, to better assure consumer access to the kind of health care that is wanted. The bill's enactment marks a step forward for protecting consumer access not only in Minnesota, but also throughout the land. The bill has been hailed as a bellweather signaling a long overdue recognition of freedom to practice for alternative health care practitioners as well. A consumer's freedom of access is dependent on the practitioner's freedom to practice, of course, much as the public's freedom of access to information rests on the writer's freedom to write freely and without suppression by state laws or actions. For many, the unfair suppression of health care practices is just as troubling and unacceptable as would be the state's censorship of books or of free speech. 
 

If you want to see the full texts of these bills you can find them at:

 http://www.minnesotanaturalhealth.org/billtext.htm 

http://www.californiahealthfreedom.org/documents/our_bill.asp