Another Argument for Licensing Naturopathic Doctors.

One of the claims made by skeptics of Naturopathic Medicine is that licensing us will somehow endanger the public.  Au contraire.  Here's a case in Oregon where licensing N.D.s has resulted in at least one former N.D. being blocked from medical practice.  The case was pursued by the attorney general with the support and assistance of the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians. 

The former N.D. in question is paying 50k as a fine and is permanently blocked from seeing patients.  I cannot remember many cases of an M.D. or a D.O. receiving a permanent injunction from his board.  Usually they are suspended, or take early retirement.  So we police our own strenuously.  Let's license all fifty states already.   

For those with a lot of reading time, the former N.D.'s complaint is online.  Compare this to an alcoholic surgeon's license removal six years after getting pulled over for a DUI while driving to the hospital to perform surgery.  While the former N.D. should have lost his license, the M.D. was literally operating under the influence for years.  There are numerous programs that protect addicted M.D.s from charges, getting them treatment while they continue practicing.  N.D.s just pull the license.  I guess we just have a different standard.

Looking for Naturopathic Doctors?

Many people assume if they don't live in a licensed state (we're working on it) they can't see a licensed N.D.  Not so.  The best place to check is the AANP website, which lists all members (you can be licensed and not be a member, so also check your state licensing board).

If you are local and want a mostly complete list of licensed N.D.s go to the MAND website.  If you want a complete listing, go to the Maine State license search.  It's complicated, so I would use the MAND site first.