On 13 Apr 2009 at 15:03, Gerald Peterson wrote:
 
> Gee, who will be pushing drugs next? Psychologists?Psychic healers? Or
> have they already given them such powers? See
> http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/10/bc-naturopaths.html?ref=rss 

Note that this is in British Columbia, the California of Canada (whatever 
that means). On the other hand, what with our Federal Minister of 
International Trade and our Science Minister both endorsing creationism, 
I wouldn't be surprised if the Federal government was considering a 
similar move. They don't seem to understand the difference between 
science and nonsense.

Yet there is hope. A close reading of the the CBC article has this 
sentence:

"Naturopaths would be required to complete a new certification course 
before being allowed to prescribe drugs including hormones, vitamins, 
minerals and amino acids".

None of the items on this list except for hormones are the kind we 
normally call drugs. They're more in the line of dietary supplements, 
which naturopaths are already busy prescribing, with or without 
permission. Even hormones, although they can be problematic, are less 
dangerous in the hands of a quack than psychoactive drugs. Actually, I 
thought naturopaths are more likely to tell people to abandon hormone 
treatment ("You don't need insulin for your diabetes. It's a poison, just 
like distilled water"). 

Perhaps the reporter got it wrong, and rather than the regulation 
specifing that the drugs to be prescribed include the above list, it 
actually says that these are the only kind which may be prescribed. If  
so, still not good, but better.

Stephen
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Stephen L. Black, Ph.D.          
Professor of Psychology, Emeritus   
Bishop's University      e-mail:  [email protected]
2600 College St.
Sherbrooke QC  J1M 1Z7
Canada

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