New bill governs Chinese healing; Ontario will get regulatory body It'll set standards for ancient arts
The Toronto Star
Thu 08 Dec 2005
Page: A4
Section: News
Byline: Rob Ferguson
Source: Toronto Star
It will take four years before Ontarians can be sure that anyone treating them with acupuncture or other forms of traditional Chinese medicine is properly qualified, Health Minister George Smitherman, says.
That's the time frame - under legislation proposed yesterday - for setting up a new body regulating the ancient healing arts, setting standards for training and accreditation of more than 2,000 practitioners.
"If the sign on the door says 'doctor,' patients need to know that title is backed up," Smitherman said before introducing the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act.
Penalties for misrepresentation of qualifications will range from $5,000 to $10,000.
The way things now stand in Ontario, anyone can go into business offering acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine, including herbal therapies.
"There's a lot of loose, unofficial titles out there," said Toronto chiropractor Dr. Kwong Chiu, who also practises acupuncture.
He's one of many in the Chinese medicine community who applauded the government's move, which Smitherman and practitioners agreed will boost the credibility of fast-growing traditional Chinese medicine.
But until the profession becomes self-regulating - like doctors, chiropractors and massage therapists, for example - it's up to consumers to check the background of practitioners if they have any concerns.
The field is coming under regulation because of the potential for harmful reactions between western drugs and herbal treatments, concerns some herbs may be toxic or of poor quality, and fears that practitioners could cut corners on the sterilization of acupuncture needles, a problem that happened in Quebec last year, prompting officials to warn 1,100 patients to get tested for HIV and hepatitis.
Smitherman said he hopes publicity surrounding his legislation will create "a higher degree of awareness" among patients and said acupuncture and Chinese medicine will not be covered by OHIP.
There is a "very large range" of skills among practitioners now, with some having graduated from years of study in traditional schools in China or Canada and others who learned from elders or in weekend courses, said Mary Wu, president of the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. "That's why it needs to be regulated."
B.C. is the only other province to regulate acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. Alberta and Quebec regulate acupuncture only.
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