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Medical Board of Australia Denies Request from AIMA to Retract Consultation Paper

 
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On the 20th of March 2019 the Australian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) as a peak voice for integrative medicine formally wrote to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) requesting an immediate and full retraction of the ‘public consultation paper on clearer regulation of medical practitioners who provide complementary and unconventional medicine and emerging treatments.’

On the 28th of March 2019 AIMA have reported that the MBA have denied that request and that the public consultation on the proposed guidelines would continue as planned.

The MBA has advised that AIMA’s objections to the guidelines would be taken into account as part of the public consultation process.

In liaising with MBA on this matter, AIMA’s has raised five primary concerns:

  1. That the proposed guidelines are unnecessary
  2. That the guidelines don’t conform to COAG Principles for best practice regulation
  3. That the scope of the proposed guidelines is poorly defined creating ambiguity and uncertainty
  4. That the amalgamation of three disparate groups into one definition is not scientific
  5. That there has been a lack of procedural fairness in the development of the proposed guidelines

AIMA maintains that, if adopted, the guidelines would compromise integrative doctors’ practise.

What can be done?

To get a stronger understanding of the threat these guidelines may pose to the practice of integrative medicine, you can listen to the FX Medicine interviews with Dr Penny Caldicott, president of AIMA and Professor Stephen Myers from Southern Cross University as they break down the issues with this consultation process. Dr Mark Donohoe and Prof Myers have also written a critique on these guidelines which they've allowed us to share on FX Medicine. Marcus Blackmore also felt compelled by this issue and penned an open letter about the Medical Board consultation. 

More resources on how to be actively involved and to have your say can be found at www.integrativemedicinefreedomofchoice.com


DISCLAIMER: 

The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.

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