CAMLAW: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Law Blog : Complementary, Alternative, & Integrative Medicine Law, Regulation, Ethics & Policy (Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Medical Spa Information, Holistic Health Attorney, and Legal Resources)

Homeopathy in the UK is resisting calls to ban it from the National Health Service:

The Commons Science and Technology Committee said there is no evidence the drugs are any more effective than a placebo - the same as taking a sugar or dummy pill and believing it works.

Last month, doctors attending the British Medical Association (BMA) annual conference backed this view, saying homeopathic remedies should be banned on the NHS and taken off pharmacy shelves where they are sold as medicines.

The treatment was described as "nonsense on stilts" and that patients would be better off buying bottled water.

Ms Milton said the Government welcomed the MPs' report but "remain of the view that the local National Health Service and clinicians are best placed to make decisions on what treatment is appropriate for their patients".

These decisions should take account of safety, and clinical and cost effectiveness, she said, adding that the Government remained committed to providing good-quality information on the treatments.

Medical nutrition mega-deal closes:

Medical Nutrition USA Inc. closed on its sale Thursday to Danone North America Inc., the French maker of Dannon yogurt and Evian water, in a stock sale valued at $62.3 million.

The Englewood maker of nutrition medicine sold its common stock shares for $4 a share in cash, and as a result will become part of Danone's medical nutrition business in the United States — Nutricia North America in Rockville, Md., which serves the pediatric market.

"This is a complementary acquisition, intended to combine strengths of both companies and increase business, and obtain additional profitability that way," said Frank Newman, MNI chairman and chief executive officer.

MNI and Danone have significant presence in the adult nutrition market but Danone's strength has remained in Europe. The acquisition will open up the growing senior market in the U.S. for Danone through MNI, said Newman.

MNI, which sells its products to long-term care facilities, hospitals and dialysis and bariatric clinics in the United States, will benefit from the deal by gaining access to Danone's research and development staff, said Newman.

Tinnitus herbal remedies offer hope:

Tinnitus Herbal Remedies, what complementary medicine has to say about tinnitus herbal remedies.

The United State Government’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) as “different health care and medical systems, practices, and product which are generally not in the realm of conventional medicine.” So how does this relate to tinnitus herbal remedies? While this is on our minds, lets check out some CAM venues that are currently there to give tinnitus relief.

The B Complex Vitamins have been the vitamin supplement of choice for tinnitus patients. B vitamins team up with enzymes to help your metabolism and make energy in the human body. It maintains healthy skin, sustains muscle tone, and aids functions of the liver and central nervous system. Results have shown that a strict regimen of B vitamin supplements aids in reducing tinnitus issues in patients who are vitamin deficient. Folic acid is another vitamin supplement to note that provides tinnitus relief.

Ontario seeks CAM law and policy help:

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is seeking input from integrative physicians, natural/manual medicine practitioners and the public at large to assist in reviewing and proposing revisions to its complementary medicine policy.

This review is being conducted as part of the College’s regular policy review process. 

A Working Group, composed of both physician and public members of Council, has been struck to review the Complementary Medicine policy and input will also be accepted from non-physicians practitioners of natural/manual therapies. The Working Group will then evaluate and propose revisions to the policy. Final decisions about policy content are made by College Council. 

The Complementary Medicine policy was originally developed in the mid‐1990s. It articulates broad statements of expectation for the medical profession related to three core components: assessing patients, treating patients, and advancing knowledge. 

Since the development of the Complementary Medicine policy, the environment has changed significantly. A number of new regulatory bodies have been created to govern professions considered broadly to be ‘complementary’: Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, to name a few. As well, since the mid‐1990s, the popularity and use of complementary therapies has increased dramatically; many patients access complementary therapies to address health concerns, or to maintaina healthy lifestyle. 

The Working Group will consider these new developments, along with the experiences of other medical regulatory bodies, and feedback from this consultation. Its goal, which is shared by Council, is to ensure that College policy is responsive to practice issues, embodies the values and duties of medical professionalism, and is consistent with the College’s mandate to protect the public. 

The policy review process for the Complementary Medicine policy is in its early stages. To assist with this process, the CPSO would like to hear your thoughts on our current policy, along with any suggestions you may have for how the policy can be improved. More specifically: 

• Does the policy provide useful guidance?
• Are there any issues not included in the current policy that should be addressed? If so, what are they?
• How could the policy be improved?

Your comments will be considered by the Working Group and will help to determine what policy revisions may be required. You will have a second opportunity to participate later in the policy review process. Once the Working Group has developed a revised draft policy, all interested parties will be invited to review that revised document, and provide comments before it is finalized by Council.

 

If you’re interested in this topic, the CPSO would like to hear from you.  Review the existing policy  at http://www.cpso.on.ca/policies/policies/default.aspx?ID=1532 and provide your comments in writing by August 1, 2010 to: 

ComplementaryMedicine@cpso.on.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

OR 

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Policy Department – Complementary Medicine, 80 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2E2.

**

*

Our law firm has many successes with health care and business law clients, whose practices are transforming the business and health care landscape as we know it.

Michael H. Cohen is an attorney providing business legal advice to green entrepreneurs and companies, and health care law advice to businesses and physicians, acupuncturists, naturopaths, homeopaths and others in the holistic health, wellness, and green industries. As a founding attorney of the Global Vision Law Group, he represents businesses poised for vertical lift, whose leaders are conscious, intuitive, and committed to shaping a better world. Michael also advises medical spas and integrative medicine clinics, physicians, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, massage therapists, energy healers, nutritionists and herbalists, dietary supplement and cosmetics companies, and businesses with bio-energy and other technologies and medical devices. Michael offers the Entrepreneur’s Legal Toolkit as a series of legal guides to businesses. The first legal e-book deals with Contract Essentials, giving legal tips every business needs to negotiate its legal agreements; the second addresses legal issues faced by multi-level marketing companies and individuals involved in multilevel marketing and direct sales; and the third one so far is a HIPAA Regulations and Privacy Manual at far less the cost than it would take for an attorney to prepare.

Michael also sponsors Being Central, a Portal for Potential, which gives access to other, pre-paid legal services. 

Read reviews of Michael’s work on the Complementary Complementary and Alternative Medicine Law Blog. And visit the Flat Rate Legal Services page for information on legal services offered at a flat rate or project fee (such as incorporation for entrepreneurs, review and drafting of business contracts, trademark, and health law services for CAM providers and others).

Michael’s clientele  through the Global Vision Law Group includes businesses not only in California, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. states, but also abroad. To speak with a lawyer about health care law issues pertaining to complementary and alternative medicine, or to consult a business lawyer about laws and legal issues for entrepreneurs and new enterprises that are seeking legal advice, contact the Global Vision Law Group today.