Well, it's about time!

[David Jamieson]

Queen's Park (the provincial legislature of the province of Ontario in Canada) has tabled a bill to regulate traditional chinese medicine practice.

This is a huge step forward in legitimizing the various practices and only moving toward the amalgamation of eastern and western medical practices on a field of the best of both worlds being available under a universal health care system ranked...well somewhere down the list but hey, not bad! like 7th, or 30th depending on how you compile the statistics.

Anyway, here's the official article:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/...nr_102406.html

Of course there is some protestation, but overall the feeling appears mutually positive.

Depending how you look at it...

[herb ox]

Yeah, regulation can be a funny thing... Here in the verdant, sunny climes of Northern Cali, we have our daily struggles with the profession and are constantly battling off regulatory bills presented by western medical lobbying organizations, while seeking to promote our legitimacy by promoting our own regulatory opinions.

Recently, Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger turned down a bill to better define the term "Asian bodywork" to imply a legitimate practice of various traditional modalities of massage as used in Asia. Practicioners would require certification, registration, etc, etc. The bill was declined by the Governor with the circular reasoning that the bill to define the term could not be approved since there is no currently acceped definition for "Asian bodywork"... Funny, I say... funny.

I'm glad to hear Ontario is acknowledging TCM as a legit form of healthcare requiring regulation. Good move, Ontario!

Thanks for the update, Sir!

herb ox

[AJM]

I'm dubious about regulation if there's a likelyhood that the regulators know less about the subject than many of the practitioners.

[David Jamieson]

It's better than having any nick, johhny or sammy out there prescribing potentially harmful herbs or practicing highly questionable acupuncture treatments etc without any accountability to the patient whatsoever.

It seeks to put a house in order and give it recognition that it deserves and frankly, I'd rather it be a little tougher to get a smoother service and a better selection of services made available to people who are genuinely suffering.

It will also put to end quickly any and all charlatans and hobby healers out there who really should not be doing a lot of the things they are doing.

[Plymouth Rocks]

Sorry, Gubment intervention in private enterprise is seldom a good idea. Legislation is beneficial to the TCM, massage, whatever schools is all. You see what a horrific job they have done with education, healthcare, etc.

[David Jamieson]

PR-

I don't think it's intervention beyond wanting to have accountability and regulation attached to this practice the same as any other thing that can benefit society.

Regulation in Health care is very important. Especially when we are talking about how life changing treatments can be on both positive and negative levels.

[uki]

Queen's Park (the provincial legislature of the province of Ontario in Canada) has tabled a bill to regulate traditional chinese medicine practice.

aaaahhhhh yes... more government meddling.

[taai gihk yahn]

aaaahhhhh yes... more government meddling.

well, it's fitting, if you consider that the inception of TCM itself is the product of one of the biggest government "meddles" in 20th c. history...

[uki]

well, it's fitting, if you consider that the inception of TCM itself is the product of one of the biggest government "meddles" in 20th c. history...

up there with yoga, McMA, and organic natural foods.

[David Jamieson]

Not sure how government is meddling by enacting accountability statutes into law.

Is it government meddling to tell people who do not have engineering degrees that they are not eligible to put engineering stamps on architectural drawings?

Is it government meddling to tell people who have never studied physiology that they will not be able to have a daily job whereby they perform life saving surgeries?

Why is government to you anyway? Do you honestly regard it as something whole and apart and separate from you? You elect the person you want to represent your views and concerns.

If you don't participate at all in the political process, then I can see why you would fear or despise government. Fear and loathing directed towards something is generally the first product of not knowing.

You have to realize that you have a voice and that your voice counts. If you give up your voice and remove yourself from your community, then why complain? You don't want to be part of it, you don't want to exercise your freedom and rights and you don't care about anyone else's.

recognize.

[uki]

Not sure how government is meddling by enacting accountability statutes into law.

meddling = restrictions/penalties

Is it government meddling to tell people who do not have engineering degrees that they are not eligible to put engineering stamps on architectural drawings?

to think anyone needs a degree to define understanding is ridiculous...

Is it government meddling to tell people who have never studied physiology that they will not be able to have a daily job whereby they perform life saving surgeries?

what if the people have a uncanny natural ability to preform the appropriate tasks and procedures without "sanctioned" training??

Why is government to you anyway? Do you honestly regard it as something whole and apart and separate from you? You elect the person you want to represent your views and concerns.

i acknowledge no government... i live according to my own moral judgements according to the experience i have gained in life. i need no other person to dictate on how to live... i see my childrens smiling faces, i smile at the morning sun... i do my best not to infringe another person pursuit of happiness. i watch over my fellow man, my neighbor. i value the faces of parents who have found joy in life thru their children... i do not need to obey some man-made laws in order to live a good and honest life. governments are for people too afraid to make their own desicions in life.

If you don't participate at all in the political process, then I can see why you would fear or despise government. Fear and loathing directed towards something is generally the first product of not knowing.

there is no government...

You have to realize that you have a voice and that your voice counts. If you give up your voice and remove yourself from your community, then why complain? You don't want to be part of it, you don't want to exercise your freedom and rights and you don't care about anyone else's.

my voice is here on the broadband... it reaches and affects those who it does... i am exercising my freedom right here, right now. thought creates... people need to be empowered... power to the people.

recognize.

understand.