Protect Doctors From Threats

Medical doctors who use complementary medicine to help their patients are being harassed across Canada.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons across Canada have a long history of harassing and threatening to revoke licenses of physicians who incorporate complementary therapies into their practices. This has deterred many physicians from using complementary therapies for the benefit of their patients.

This action not only keeps the conventional medical monopoly in place but also completely negates the rights of individuals to access physicians offering these therapies. We believe every Canadian citizen must have the freedom to choose physicians who offer complementary therapies. In fact, in 1989 Canada signed the Helsinki Accord which states:
"In the treatment of the sick person, the physician must be free to use a new diagnostic and therapeutic measure, if in his or her judgement, it offers hope of saving life, re-establishing health, or alleviating suffering."

We also believe that the College of Physicians must be made fully accountable for their actions.

Physicians in many countries have a far broader range of therapies available to their patients than those currently used here. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, botanical medicine, chelation therapy, environmental medicine, homeopathy, orthomolecular medicine and ozone therapy are incorporated in mainstream medicine in many other parts of the world. For example, Germany has used ozone therapy for over 30 years to treat a wide variety of medical conditions.

Legislation has been passed in Nova Scotia, Alberta and more recently, an amendment has reached its second reading in Ontario to not only protect doctors from retribution by the College, but also to protect the rights of patients to choose the therapies of their choice. Citizens Supporting Complementary Medicine and the Chelation Association of BC wish to involve as many Canadians as possible in writing a letter in support of the amendment to the Medical Practitioners Act in BC, which was introduced to the House as a private member's bill on July 6th, 2000 by Steve Orcherton, MLA. The amendment will allow doctors to provide complementary therapies to their patients without fear of repercussions.