Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/13/2004 03:15 PM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 434-NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Number 1900
CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 434, "An Act relating to the practice of
naturopathic medicine; and providing for an effective date."
The committee took an at-ease from 5:55 p.m. to 6:01 p.m.
Number 1805
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HOLM, Alaska State Legislature, as sponsor of
HB 434, presented the bill and answered questions from the
members. He told the members that he offered HB 434 to ensure
professional safe naturopathic health care for all Alaskans. It
will bring an outdated 17-year-old Alaskan statute on the
practice of naturopathic medicine up to date and in line with
about 14 other states that already have these provisions. It
provides quality health care to Alaskans through continuing
education, requirements, and improved services in the practice
of naturopathic medicine. It addresses the shortages of
physicians in Alaska while providing alternative care and
reducing health care costs to Alaskans. The bill places a
continuing education requirement in statute for naturopathic
physicians of Alaska. It specifies that naturopathic physicians
may perform minor surgery based upon their education, training,
and licensure, he said.
Number 1520
DANIEL YOUNG, ND, LAC, AKANP Legislative Task Force, testified
in support of HB 434, and answered questions from the members.
He provided the following testimony to the committee: [Original
text, but some formatting changes were made]
Chair Wilson and Honorable members of the committee.
Thank you for allowing me to testify on behalf of HB
434. Thank you for staying later to hear this.
HB 434 would allow naturopathic physicians to
prescribe substances that they are trained to use and
to perform minor surgery. You all know the issues
before you. You have a packet with all the
comparisons and it is pretty comprehensive packet. We
have all met with you all on an individual basis and
have plead our case.
By now you have heard from naturopathic doctors and
patients of naturopathic medicine that are in support
of this bill. You have also heard from the medical
doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and even the
pharmacy board. I don't think that you have heard
from patients of allopathic or osteopathic doctors.
Unfortunately, I had a nice conversation with Dr. Alex
Malter the head of the Alaska State Medical
Association in the fall and we had a good discussion.
It is too bad he had to leave to care for a patient
because I think it would have been helpful to have the
two of us here would have been helpful in this issue.
With your permission I would like to direct your
attention briefly to facts:
Fact 1: Education
Naturopathic doctors are trained for general family
practice. We are not trained to be specialists and do
not work in hospital environments, but in out patient
in the trenches.
Naturopathic doctors complete 8 years of higher
education. Some receive more, but it is a minimum of
8 years.
Requirements to enter a naturopathic medical school
are almost identical to that of any other medical
school. I almost went to an allopathic medical school
and was ready to do that.
The curriculum of a naturopathic medical school
compares with allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO)
schools, in intensity and comprehensiveness.
The clinical studies in naturopathic medical school
also compare to allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO)
schools.
Outpatient based clerkships prepare us for how we
practice.
In your packets you can see charts that compare our
education with medical schools.
There has also been expert unbiased testimony by Dr.
Clyde Jenson in previous committee meetings and with
the other body. He has a unique position to comment
on the education between these three areas. He has
been a president or administrator of allopathic (MD),
osteopathic (DO) and (ND) medical schools for long
periods of time and is quite versed to attest to the
nature of their curriculums. Their first two years
are almost identical. That is when you learn your
sciences. That is anatomy, physiology, pharmacology,
clinical physical diagnosis, and the lab diagnosis, x-
ray, radiology, things like that.
The second stage is the clinical sciences that are
learned in the third and fourth years. At this time
naturopathic physicians go through broad based
training. They work in manipulation, botanical
medicine, nutrition, dietetics, homeopathy, and some
pharmalogical therapeutics, though not as extensive as
a pharmalogical therapeutics in a hospital situation.
As you know medical doctors and doctors of
naturopathic medicine work extensively on very
rigorous internships where all that is studied is
pharmalogical therapeutics and they are the experts of
that realm of medicine.
Number 1570
We are skilled in the 40 percent of drugs that are
coming from a natural substance and there are
different generations of that that we are very well
versed in the use of that.
Fact 2: Licensure
Graduates of naturopathic medical schools pass
rigorous nationally administered board exams. These
exams have been examined by federal institutions that
determine the level of education that you would need
to pass them. That is for bio-medical general
practice of medicine.
Fact 3: Federal Regulation
Naturopathic medical institutions are recognized by
Federal and State Accrediting Bodies as well as by the
Council of Naturopathic Medical education. We wish
only to be able to practice how they say we are
trained to practice.
Fact 4: Naturopathic Medicine is Safe
No patient complaints in 17 years of practice in
Alaska. Naturopathic medicine is safe. I have
numbers to show you on a national level in comparison
that and we can talk about that.
Fact 5: Scientific Basis
There is research- see your packet "Naturopathic
Collaborative Events"
In the packet there is a very nice presentation,
Representative Coghill has it. That shows all of the
clinical research and all the things that are being
done in Naturopathic medicine and complimentary care
across the United States.
Number 1497
Fact 6: Naturopathic Physician = Primary Care
The Journal of American Medical Association or
J.A.M.A. in 1998 - there is an article in the packet
by Dr. Cooper. They are saying that we are trained as
primary care and outpatient based, which means we do
not work in the hospitals, but we work seeing patients
in our clinics. And that is how our training is and
it is adequate for that.
Complimentary medicine is the wave of the future;
already Alaska's clinics have MD's, DO's and ND's
working side by side. It is not as much as in the
Lower 48, but it is happening.
We have letters of support from medical doctors who
work with us, as well as other types of practitioners.
We have thousands of signatures from patients in your
districts that want access to complete Naturopathic
scope of practice.
Our current statute is out of date and needs to be
updated to reflect the quality of Naturopathic
education.
Number 1443
These letters of opposition clearly indicate to me
that there is a misunderstanding about the level of
our education as naturopathic physicians in this
state.
Often times these letters indicate that it is a
licensing issue. We have been licensed for 17 years.
All it is expanding our scope to include what should
be rightfully ours. For 17 years we have been
providing service to 30,000 Alaskans. I'm going to
cut this short, and ask you to consider this bill. I
appreciate your time and can answer any of your
questions at this time.
Number 1413
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked why the e-mails he has been receiving
have expressed concern that the legislature may take away their
right to practice naturopathic medicine. He commented that he
does not know how that information got into the community, but
for the record, he said, there is nothing in this bill that
diminishes anything naturopaths are doing. He asked Dr. Young
if he would agree with that.
DR. YOUNG replied that he would agree with respect to the intent
of the bill. There is wording in the bill that has been
insulting for 17 years and would like to see that corrected, he
said. He told the members that his main concern is patients who
want their naturopaths to be able to provide the care that they
are trained to provide. For example, natural estrogens, natural
progesterone, and natural thyroids are prescription drugs that
naturopaths are trained to use, Dr. Young stated. He emphasized
that it is not their intent to use schedule 2 drugs;
naturopathic physicians do not use those drugs. Naturopaths
refer their patients to other providers in cases where there is
a need for more specialized treatment. When a patient comes
into the office for a pap [smear], and it is found that the
patient needs a special estrogen prescription that can be made
for her, but the naturopath cannot write the prescription, then
that is a problem. The insurance company gets billed twice;
there is a waiting list; and a patient's health care is at risk.
The same thing applies to patients with diabetes and
hypertension, he added. Dr. Young commented that naturopaths
are not interested in using anti-psychotic drugs because we are
not trained for that. Naturopaths would refer appropriately for
treatment outside of our area of training, he commented. Dr.
Young pointed out that the current bill does not have the [drug]
schedules in it.
Number 1301
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO reiterated that everyone who currently sees
a naturopath will be able to continue to see his or her
naturopaths. If the bill passes there will be additional
privileges that will be available to the public. He asked Dr.
Young for clarification that schedules were taken out of the
bill.
DR. YOUNG replied that he understands the [drug] schedules were
taken out of the bill in order to get it out of the House Labor
and Commerce Standing Committee. He explained that naturopaths
did not want schedules [one and] two because they did not want
drugs that have a high incidence of physiological and
physiological dependence and are hot topics. Drugs that are
listed on schedules three, four, and five are far below
naturopaths' level of training, he commented. There are only
certain drugs within those levels that a naturopath would use
anyway. The bill was originally written with the intent that
naturopaths would have access to drugs they would use, he said.
CHAIR WILSON asked if Representative Holm would point out where
the language was removed from the bill.
Number 1234
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM referred to CSHB 434(L&C), Section 08.45.120
(4), page 5, line 23, language addressing scheduled drugs was
after the following:
(4) prescribe and implement barrier devices for
contraception;
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM commented that in the original version of
the bill, the above language was numbered (5) and the language
addressing scheduled drugs preceded this language as (4).
CHAIR WILSON asked where in the current bill does it authorize
naturopaths to prescribe schedule three, four, and five drugs.
She said she believes all of that language was removed.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM agreed that all the language authorizing use
of scheduled prescription drugs was removed.
CHAIR WILSON stated that the only thing that is left in the bill
is as follows [page 5, lines 14 through 17]:
(1) prescribe or administer for preventive and
therapeutic purposes the following: food, extracts of
food, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, whole gland
substances, botanical medicines, and homeopathic
preparations;
(2) if authorized under regulations of the department,
prescribe or administer legend or prescription drugs,
CHAIR WILSON told the members that legend drugs are anti-biotic,
drugs for high blood pressure, diabetes, and most medications in
general that can be refilled for one year. She asked if someone
from the Department of Health and Social Services is available
to speak to this part of the bill.
Number 1103
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked if legend or prescription drugs
covers schedule three, four, and five drugs.
DR. YOUNG responded that controlled substances represents a
relatively small part of what is in a pharmacy. Since 1971 the
Controlled Substance Act put prescription drugs into schedules
so that there are schedules one, two, three, four, and five.
The schedules are based on the physiological and psychological
dependence. Five being a relatively minimal dependence compared
to one which is only used in research and in governmental
research. Examples of schedule one drugs is heroin, LSD, or
marijuana. Schedule two drugs are primarily narcotics such as
oxycodone. Schedule three, schedule four, and schedule five
drugs are other controlled substances as well, but they are of
less physiological and psychological dependence. Dr. Young
explained that legend drugs is an old term for the legend that
use to be on the side of foods which was instituted by the FDA.
He clarified that legend drugs are prescription drugs that are
not controlled substances.
Number 1029
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked for further clarification on the
term "legend drugs" and asked if it refers to all five scheduled
drugs.
DR. YOUNG replied no. He told the members that his
understanding of this terminology is that this language would
not allow naturopaths to provide any legend drugs. However,
natural thyroid or anti-biotic could be prescribed.
CHAIR WILSON noted that naturopaths would not be allowed to
prescribe those drugs unless the department authorizes it.
DR. YOUNG agreed with Chair Wilson's statement.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he is trying to ascertain whether the
department's authorization would include schedule three, four,
and five drugs. He asked if legend or prescription drugs are
something other than schedules three, four and five drugs.
CHAIR WILSON replied that prescription drugs cover any schedule
drug. That is a pretty broad category which could include
morphine. She commented that she would like to discuss this
point with the department.
Number 0935
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM clarified that without an FDA license
naturopaths cannot prescribe a prescription drug.
Number 0905
DR. YOUNG pointed to the original bill and told the members that
the language was changed. He read from HB 434, 23-LS1574\D,
page 5, lines 16 and 17 as follows:
(4) after becoming registered with the federal Drug
Enforcement Administration, prescribe a controlled
substance;
DR. YOUNG commented that this language is no longer in the bill
that is before the committee. The original intent was that
naturopaths could use prescription drugs, but not controlled
substances, he explained. Dr. Young added that there is a
misconception that prescription drugs are controlled substances.
He summarized that the language was removed from the bill in
order to get it out of the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee.
CHAIR WILSON commented that by removing that language and
leaving prescription drugs in the bill it allows a doctor to
write a prescription for anything.
DR. YOUNG clarified that doctors can only write prescriptions
for controlled substances if he/she has a Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) number.
Number 0871
CHAIR WILSON stated that a DEA number is required in order to
have insurance payment. She questioned how it would be paid.
DR. YOUNG said he has never come across that problem because he
has always worked in states where he has had a DEA license.
CHAIR WILSON responded that whenever completing insurance forms
it is necessary to provide the doctor's DEA number. Without
that number, insurance will not pay for the prescription.
Number 0772
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO pointed to page 5, lines 29 and 30, which
reads as follows:
(7) use the title of "doctor of naturopathy,"
"naturopath," "naturopathic physician," or their
abbreviations.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO commented that the use of "naturopathic
physician" became a contentious point in House Labor and
Commerce Standing Committee meeting. The thought there was that
the term "physician" means very specific things and it is a
guarded term. Representative Gatto said just because someone is
a doctor, does not make him/her a physician. He suggested that
naturopaths would not want to use the term because it clouds the
issue.
Number 0683
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM responded that Representative Gatto makes a
good point. However, he offered that the term physician in
layman terms means healer. There are different methodologies of
healing. There are illness such as psychosomatic illness which
have no traditional ways of treatment. Those are addressed
through a change in attitude, and can improve an individual's
health and truly be considered physicians. Representative Holm
commented that nurse practitioners are every bit as much a
healer as an allopathic physician. He commented that usually
when a person refers to a physician it is a reference to someone
who has a doctorate degree versus a nurse practitioner. It is
just one level up, he said. Representative Holm suggested the
members might wonder if the level has risen to the place where
naturopaths should be call physicians or true healers. He
stated that he believes it does.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO replied that if this bill becomes law then
any discipline where healing occurs would merit the term
physician. He questioned whether the legislature wants to make
the term physician so broad that it cannot be used anymore to
identify what is now known as a physician. Currently, this term
is reserved for doctors of medicine, Representative Gatto
commented.
Number 0547
DR. YOUNG agreed that Representative Gatto made some good
points. He explained that the term "physic" is actually a Latin
term for nature. He pointed out that chiropractors are also
called chiropractic physicians. Naturopathic physicians is a
term used in licensed states where naturopaths are
differentiated from those who have gone through a medical school
and have a doctorate in medicine, so they are able to refer to
themselves as physicians. He explained that a naturopath can go
into any unlicensed state and hang a shingle which says
"naturopath," but could not hang out a sign that says medical
doctor or physician. This bill would protect that term for
those who are practicing naturopathy as physicians.
Number 0457
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL referred to AS 08.02.010, under
Miscellaneous Provisions, which says:
Sec. 08.02.010. Professional designation
requirements.
(a) An acupuncturist licensed under AS 08.06, an
audiologist or speech-language pathologist licensed
under AS 08.11, a person licensed in the state as a
chiropractor under AS 08.20, a professional counselor
licensed under AS 08.29, a dentist under AS 08.36, a
dietitian or nutritionist licensed under AS 08.38, a
marital and family therapist licensed under AS 08.63,
a medical practitioner or osteopath under AS 08.64, a
direct-entry midwife certified under AS 08.65, a
registered nurse under AS 08.68, an optometrist under
AS 08.72, a licensed pharmacist under AS 08.80, a
physical therapist or occupational therapist licensed
under AS 08.84, a psychologist under AS 08.86, or a
clinical social worker licensed under AS 08.95, shall
use as professional identification appropriate letters
or a title after that person's name that represents
the person's specific field of practice. The letters
or title shall appear on all signs, stationery, or
other advertising in which the person offers or
displays personal professional services to the public.
In addition, a person engaged in the practice of
medicine or osteopathy as defined in AS 08.64.380, or
a person engaged in any manner in the healing arts who
diagnoses, treats, tests, or counsels other persons in
relation to human health or disease and uses the
letters "M.D." or the title "doctor" or "physician" or
another title that tends to show that the person is
willing or qualified to diagnose, treat, test, or
counsel another person, shall clarify the letters or
title by adding the appropriate specialist
designation, if any, such as "dermatologist",
"radiologist", "audiologist", "naturopath", or the
like.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL clarified that under Alaska statutes the
term is very broad.
Number 0406
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA), 1998 article where there is
discussion about naturopathic physicians. He said he thinks the
distinction that he sees being made through opposing comments is
that naturopath are an unlicensed, unregulated group; whereas
naturopathic physicians are licensed in state and have the
background and training. These are two different groups, he
emphasized. For example, currently a naturopath can practice
right now with no training, but to be a naturopathic physician
an individual must meet the licensing requirements. That is
what is really being discussed here, he commented. He suggested
that the committee look at the policy call of restricting the
word "naturopath" to refer to only naturopathic physicians to
prevent the confusion that has occurred in the testimony the
members have heard.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL told the committee that anyone who is
licensed must have the credentials. He added that he has a
friend who is called doctor, but he is not a medical doctor.
Representative Coghill questioned what the committee wants to
define.
Number 0284
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked the committee to look at page 3,
lines 26 through 28, which reads as follows:
(B) addiction or severe dependency on alcohol or a
drug that impairs the applicant's or licensee's
ability to practice safely; or
(C) physical or mental disability; or
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA pointed out that (C) does not have the
same qualifying terms after the condition that (B) does. She
pointed out that there are physical or mental disabilities that
exist that would not impair an individual's ability to practice
safely. She suggested including the same language in (C) that
is included in (B).
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA moved Conceptual Amendment 1 as follows:
On Page 3, Line 28, after "disability"
Insert: "that impairs the applicant's or licensee's
ability to practice safely;"
Number 0051
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA told the members that there are many kinds
of disabilities, both mental and physical, that would not be an
impairment. Many disabilities do not affect an individual's
competency in their professional lives.
REPRESENTATIVE GATTO agreed with Representative Cissna. For
example, if a person has had an arm amputated, it would not
affect that person's ability to practice safely.
TAPE 04-32, SIDE A
DR. YOUNG commented that the Division of Occupational Licensing
will regulate naturopaths appropriately. He pointed to the flow
chart in the members' packet.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said the Division of Occupational
Licensing will have a hearing officer and if there is an appeal
it can go straight to the court.
Number 0079
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed to page 3, lines 23 and 24, which
reads as follows:
(6) is [CONTINUED TO PRACTICE AFTER BECOMING] unfit to
practice naturopathic medicine due to
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON commented that he is not really opposed to
the conceptual amendment; however, he said he believes
Representative Cissna's amendment is already covered under (6)
where it says "is unfit to practice naturopathic medicine due
to." He clarified that this language means that it would have
to first be determined that the individual is unfit to practice
due to a physical or mental disability.
Number 0131
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA questioned why the language is included in
(B). She withdrew her motion to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1.
Number 0204
VERENA NILSSON testified in support of HB 434. She told the
members that she is a patient of Avanti Medical Center in
Anchorage and supports the idea of her doctors being able to
write prescriptions for medicines. Ms. Nilsson explained that
she has had medical problems for the last 12 years and had gone
to traditional doctors; however, it was not until she went to a
doctor of naturopathy that she discovered what was wrong with
her. She is now taking hormones in order to get some of the
problems taken care of. It is still a problem for her because
she has to go back to the conventional doctor to get a
prescription written. Ms. Nilsson told the members that she
would like all of her family go to naturopathic doctors.
Number 0346
STEVE COMPTON, M.D., Alaska Heart Institute, testified on HB 434
and answered questions from the members. He detailed his
training which consisted of four years of college, four years of
medical school, three years of internal medicine residency,
three years of cardiology fellowship, and another year of an
electrophysiology fellowship. Dr. Compton told the members that
he finished training at the age of 33, then taught at the
University of Utah for four years. He said he is pretty
familiar with the research basis behind allopathic medicine.
DR. COMPTON told the members that he is not sure the members are
aware of the profound differences between allopathic medicine
and alternative medicine practices. The single most important
thing that defines allopathic medicine is that it is evidence
based on scientific methods, he explained. Dr. Compton said
what that means is that if patients have a clinical problem and
are considering therapy to treat that problem or disease,
scientific methods are used to design clinical trials.
Randomized placebo controlled trials are used to determine if
therapy will actually benefit a patient, he said. Dr. Compton
told the members that using this approach helps them in
developing new treatment so patients will have longer better
lives.
Number 0526
DR. COMPTON said he believes what is not being understood is
that most naturopathic practices do not involve the scientific
method. It tends to be more of a faith-based practice. He said
that the judgment that a treatment is effective should be based
on the quality of the scientific evidence. Naturopaths are very
good at convincing people that evidence exists when it actually
does not or convincing people to accept substandard evidence.
DR. COMPTON explained that some of the practices of naturopathy
would not stand up to scientific scrutiny. For example,
iridology, which says that it can be determined if something is
wrong with an individuals organs by looking at the color of a
person's eyes. He said that this is no different than palm
reading. Dr. Compton told the members that many of these
practices would be determined to be health fraud if perpetrated
by medical doctors. He added that the differences between
naturopathic medicine and allopathic medicine has not been over
come.
Number 0661
DR. COMPTON said when the Massachusetts legislature considered
licensing naturopaths three years ago it had a special
commission working for fifteen months to study the issue. He
read the conclusion of that study into the record as follows:
For an occupation with little semblance of objective
scientific and ethical basis, licensure legitimizes an
otherwise illegitimate and dangerous activity. It is
the opinion of the Massachusetts Medical Society that
it would be irresponsible and unconscionable for the
commission to recommend the licensure of naturopathy
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
DR. COMPTON said this is an issue because prescription drugs can
be dangerous. It takes a lot of training and judgment to use
them. He told the members that he knows of no medical physician
that learned how to prescribe medications during their medical
school years. He added comparing naturopath training to medical
school training is not appropriate. Prescription training
occurs as an intern, resident, and fellow, Dr. Compton said.
His internship was hardcore training of 90 to 100 hours per
week.
Number 0769
DR. COMPTON told the committee that two patients were
hospitalized in Denver a couple of weeks ago after being treated
by a licensed naturopath. One was a 17 year old girl who had
cardiac arrest after having UV blood irradiation. This is a
procedure where the blood was removed from the girl's body,
irradiated with ultra violet light and then infused back in her.
Another case in 2002, Lawrence Perry, a naturopath, persuaded an
8 year old diabetic girl's parents to stop her insulin. Type I
diabetes requires insulin for survival. There have been several
diabetic deaths, Dr. Compton said.
DR. COMPTON shared another example of a naturopath named
Reginald Fenn who in February of 2004 was jailed because he
persuaded parents of an 18-day old baby with aortic stenosis not
to seek surgery. He told the members the only way to treat
aortic stenosis is through surgical repair. The child died
after treating it with herbs and proclaiming the child was
cured. Dr. Compton continued to share other examples of
naturopathic malpractice in which patients were harmed. After
the death of a young girl following a procedure of a naturopath,
Alberta rescinded all licensing of naturopaths.
DR. COMPTON said that naturopaths will say that this is
mainstream medicine, but it is not. He told the members that
they will be told that naturopaths have these privileges in
other states, but that is not true. He told the members that it
will not be mentioned that two states have outlawed naturopathy,
and only 11 states that even bother with licensure. Whether
licensure should be offered is debatable and he said, in his
opinion prescriptive authority is unconscionable.
Number 0905
DR. COMPTON suggested that the members look on the web site of
the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He read a
statement from the web site into the record as follows:
Naturopathic practice excludes major surgery and the
use of synthetic drugs.
DR. COMPTON commented if the members are considering giving
naturopaths prescriptive authority, what is being discussed is
not naturopathy, but medicine. He advised the members to talk
to people who prescribe drugs and understand them before passing
a bill like this. He told the members that there are dozens of
drugs when used aggressively can hurt, maim, or kill people.
The few classes in naturopathy schools is unlikely to provide
the training to prescribe these drugs.
DR. COMPTON urged the members to educate themselves on this
issue and protect Alaskans.
Number 1036
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF commented that Dr. Compton made reference to
iridology. He asked if a patient came to him with yellow itchy
eyes, what would be his first reaction.
DR. COMPTON responded that he believes Representative Wolf is
thinking of liver disease, but that is not the iris. He
explained that iridology suggests that by looking at specific
color patterns of a person's iris and a specific diagnosis can
be made. Dr. Compton agreed with Representative Wolf that a
person with liver disease can get yellow discoloration in the
white part of the eyes called jaundice.
DR. COMPTON said another questionable practice is homeopathy.
Their premise is to take whatever active drug it is believed a
patient needs, and repeatedly dilute it down. The idea behind
this is that by doing this the essence of the drug is captured
and the more diluted it is the more powerful it is. He said
this makes absolutely no sense. He pointed out that homeopathy
won't hurt anyone, but it is promoted as a way to make people
better and there is no basis in physiology or pharmacology for
the effectiveness of homeopathy, but this is another main stay
of naturopathic medicine. He told the member that naturopath is
not based upon science. Dr. Compton told the members that a
great way to blow a lot of money on health care is to spend it
on therapies that have not been proven to be effective.
Number 1212
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF told Dr. Compton of a family member's
experience where after seeing and MD for an itchy condition she
was told to put on calamine lotion and soak in Epson salts. He
took her to a naturopath who immediately had her get a blood
test. It was found that she had a tumor in her bile duct. She
was within a couple of months of dying and it was a naturopath
that saved her life, he stated. The MD did not address her
medical condition.
Number 1263
DR. COMPTON replied that he thinks that there is a lot that
naturopaths can offer. A lot can be said for a good diet and
exercise. He said well-trained physicians do miss diagnose.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF clarified that he is not talking about diet
and exercise.
DR. COMPTON admitted that there are some naturopaths that are
very sharp and well intentioned. There are also those whose
training does not include science. In allopathic medicine if a
doctor were to provide a patient with a treatment that had no
scientific or rational basis and which had not been shown to
help people, it would be considered malpractice, he said. Dr.
Compton commented that Representative Wolf's mother had an
unfortunate experience, but believes that another allopathic
doctor would have eventually diagnosed the jaundice she was
experiencing.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF asked if Dr. Compton is familiar with
multiple myeloma and asked what he would prescribe for
treatment.
DR. COMPTON responded that multiple myeloma is usually treated
with chemotherapy. He clarified that he is a cardiologist and
has not worked in oncology in over 12 years so he is not an
expert in that field.
Number 1408
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said that several treatment centers in the
Lower 48 are now saying that chemotherapy will not touch
myeloma. He explained that a dear friend who passed away had
myeloma and the doctors wanted to prescribe chemotherapy for
him.
DR. COMPTON replied that this is an especially vulnerable group
of people. A good oncology practice will be involved in
clinical trials. The heart of it is that therapies for cancer
are all pretty miserable. He said that if a therapy is offered
it is important to know if it works or not. There are
nationwide protocols to see if survival rates can be improved.
A competent oncologist can tell a patient what the state of the
art treatment is for whatever cancer a person has. He said if a
cancer patient goes to a naturopath he/she could be assured of
getting better with an herb or therapy, but there is no clinical
or trial data available for the treatment. All the data comes
from testimonial studies or belief systems, he added. In
conclusion he said the strength of allopathic medicine is based
on scientific methods. All therapies have a potential for harm
and it is essential to know that a therapy's benefit outweighs
the potential for harm, Dr. Compton stated.
Number 1589
CHAIR WILSON announced that the bill will be held in committee.
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