Alternative medical therapists seek rights.
[Feb.1, 2004, Metro section]
by Jessica Parker, courier staff writer.
Hampton
Reiki masters, yoga instructors and massage therapists spoke out about health freedom
in New [text error, not "New"] Hampton City Hall Friday.
Lu Daggs, a massage therapist and touch healer, organized the event to educate people,
including her own state Representative Linda Upmeyer of Garner, about a bill to free
alternative medicine practitioners from the threat of being arrested for their work.
[Consumer Health Freedom Act - SF 294/HF 477. See www.IowaHealthFreedom.org.]
Current laws are so broad that one person recommending another to take a herbal
remedy could be charged for practicing medicine without a license, said Nora Hardy of
Mason City.
Thats why natural healers are proposing a consumer health freedom act that would allow
people who don't have medical licenses to open herbal remedy or Reiki healing shops.
"The largest issue behind the bill is freedom of choice", said Larry Hanus, a Waterloo
resident and president of the Iowa Health Freedom Coalition.
The law, similar to one in Minnesota, would exempt healers from the health profession
practice acts.
Herb Saunders, a Minnesota dairy farmer, was prosecuted for practicing medicine
without a license for selling cow milk [colostrum] as a potential cure for diseases. After
two hung juries, the charges were dismissed, but the state later passed a freedom of
choice bill to ensure such a case didn't happen again, said Diane Miller an attorney with
National Health Freedom Action.
The Minnesota law allows people to share behaviors that do no cause imminent harm
with one another, she said.
Karolyn Haugland, registered nurse, who also practices healing touch, said she is
protected as a nurse. But she believes the proposed law could change the way people
view her healing touch business.
"It would make people feel better about coming to me." Haugland said.
The law would also require those using alternative healing practices to disclose fully
what their training is. Then it would be up to the consumer whether to go to that person
or find someone else.
The proposed law also would handle the broad definition of massage therapy, which
must be licensed under state law. Under the law, yoga instructor Nita Stewart of
Waterloo said she couldn't legally touch people to help them even if they sought her
assistance.
"It's our right to choose something. It is our God-given right. For hundreds of years we
have been doing things like that," Stewart said.
Hanus, now a licensed massage therapist, said he and others are trying to increase
grass-roots support for the bill across the state.
Upmeyer said she has more questions before deciding where she stands on the bill.
Because Upmeyer is a nurse, other legislators ask her about health care issues, which
is why she came to the forum.
"Consumers do want access to these therapies," she said.
[Feb.1, 2004, Metro section]
by Jessica Parker, courier staff writer.
Hampton
Reiki masters, yoga instructors and massage therapists spoke out about health freedom
in New [text error, not "New"] Hampton City Hall Friday.
Lu Daggs, a massage therapist and touch healer, organized the event to educate people,
including her own state Representative Linda Upmeyer of Garner, about a bill to free
alternative medicine practitioners from the threat of being arrested for their work.
[Consumer Health Freedom Act - SF 294/HF 477. See www.IowaHealthFreedom.org.]
Current laws are so broad that one person recommending another to take a herbal
remedy could be charged for practicing medicine without a license, said Nora Hardy of
Mason City.
Thats why natural healers are proposing a consumer health freedom act that would allow
people who don't have medical licenses to open herbal remedy or Reiki healing shops.
"The largest issue behind the bill is freedom of choice", said Larry Hanus, a Waterloo
resident and president of the Iowa Health Freedom Coalition.
The law, similar to one in Minnesota, would exempt healers from the health profession
practice acts.
Herb Saunders, a Minnesota dairy farmer, was prosecuted for practicing medicine
without a license for selling cow milk [colostrum] as a potential cure for diseases. After
two hung juries, the charges were dismissed, but the state later passed a freedom of
choice bill to ensure such a case didn't happen again, said Diane Miller an attorney with
National Health Freedom Action.
The Minnesota law allows people to share behaviors that do no cause imminent harm
with one another, she said.
Karolyn Haugland, registered nurse, who also practices healing touch, said she is
protected as a nurse. But she believes the proposed law could change the way people
view her healing touch business.
"It would make people feel better about coming to me." Haugland said.
The law would also require those using alternative healing practices to disclose fully
what their training is. Then it would be up to the consumer whether to go to that person
or find someone else.
The proposed law also would handle the broad definition of massage therapy, which
must be licensed under state law. Under the law, yoga instructor Nita Stewart of
Waterloo said she couldn't legally touch people to help them even if they sought her
assistance.
"It's our right to choose something. It is our God-given right. For hundreds of years we
have been doing things like that," Stewart said.
Hanus, now a licensed massage therapist, said he and others are trying to increase
grass-roots support for the bill across the state.
Upmeyer said she has more questions before deciding where she stands on the bill.
Because Upmeyer is a nurse, other legislators ask her about health care issues, which
is why she came to the forum.
"Consumers do want access to these therapies," she said.
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