Colorado Medical Society

WHEREAS, there is no list of proven, safe and effective treatments or methods necessary to define professional naturopathy, and

WHEREAS, there is no clear, established scope of practice for naturopathy, and

WHEREAS, there are significant problems in structuring and implementing state regulation of naturopathy in a manner that protects the public, and

WHEREAS, there is no way to determine who would be a deserving candidate for naturopathic licensure, even if the clinical claims of naturopaths were valid, and

WHEREAS, there is no basis for distinguishing the validity of the claims of one group of naturopaths from that of others, and

WHEREAS, there are serious questions in regard to the ability of the small number of individuals (approximately 35) seeking licensure to fund and staff a self-regulating board without serious conflicts of interest, and

WHEREAS, scientific evidence shows that standard naturopathic practice is substandard medical practice and a self-regulating naturopathic board would therefore be legitimizing unacceptable practices, and

WHEREAS, evidence has failed to demonstrate a set of scientific principles or methods that distinguish naturopathic practice from what licensed medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy are already able to do, thereby showing no social or professional need that naturopathy supplies, and

WHEREAS, “collaborative practice” between naturopaths and medical doctors is untenable because of irreconcilable scientific and ethical differences, and

WHEREAS, although Colorado law now forbids them from using the term “physician,” naturopaths portray themselves as “primary care physicians” or the equivalent, even though their clinical training is substandard, and

WHEREAS, the issue of licensure of naturopaths has recently been in the media and is likely to come before the legislature in the upcoming session, and

WHEREAS, it is important for CMS to have established policy on this issue, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Colorado Medical Society opposes licensing of naturopaths and favors enforcing the medical practice act, which prohibits the unlicensed practice of medicine and use of the term physician by any person other than an M.D. or D.O.