here, civic engagement!
001. CFI's Azhar Majeed writes in "Florida: Urge Your Governor to Veto Pro-Naturopathy Legislation" which I'll paraphrase via Perplexity:
Action Alert: Florida Naturopathy Bill
Advocacy Request: The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is calling on
Florida residents to contact Governor Ron DeSantis and request that he reject
Senate Bill 688, which would authorize naturopathic practice in the state.
CFI's Position: The organization opposes S. 688 because it
would permit naturopathy to be practiced throughout Florida with minimal
restrictions, despite concerns about its scientific validity. According to CFI,
naturopathy doesn't meet evidence-based medical standards and is rejected by
mainstream medical experts due to its reliance on treatments that lack
scientific support, including energy-based therapies and homeopathic products.
Specific Safety Concerns: CFI has worked for years to inform
legislators about risks associated with naturopathy. A particular concern
involves vaccine-skeptical views held by many naturopaths, who may promote
"nosodes" as vaccine alternatives. CFI argues this misinformation
poses serious public health risks, especially given current anti-vaccine
messaging from federal sources and ongoing measles outbreaks.
Bill Status and Provisions: Despite these concerns,
Florida's legislature has passed S. 688, which would overturn a prohibition on
naturopathy that has existed since 1959. The bill authorizes a wide range of
naturopathic interventions, including herbal and fungal preparations,
nutritional supplements, homeopathic products, "lifestyle medicine,"
and natural substances, aligned with naturopathic training standards.
Educational Concerns: CFI contends the bill overlooks
significant gaps in naturopathic education compared to conventional medical
training, which includes medical school, clinical rotations, and residency.
This educational difference may leave naturopaths unprepared to recognize
potentially dangerous drug interactions, putting patients at risk.
Regulatory Structure Issues: S. 688 establishes a Board of
Naturopathic Medicine with seven members, four of whom must be
"naturopathic doctors." CFI argues this majority ensures
self-regulation that will likely result in permissive oversight and weak
enforcement.
Call to Action: With the bill advancing to Governor
DeSantis's desk, CFI urges Florida supporters to contact the governor's office
and clearly express opposition to allowing naturopathic practice in the state.
Signed by Azhar Majeed, Director of Government Affairs and
Policy
***And there is an engagement form at the bottom. I’m not a Florida resident so I'm encouraging
Florida residents to engage through either this form or directly through their
representatives / legislature.
002. now, I'm in a State with about 100 years of
naturopathy legislative permission. It is, by nature [pun alert!] erosive and retrograde in so many ways. My analyses of what NDs are doing here in Connecticut, completed just this 2026 based on their practices' language, can
be summed up with this statement [from my recent 2026 Final Report titled
"Connecticut Naturopathic Licensure Analysis: Cullen-Snyder Framework Applied to Chapter 373 and Public Act 14- 231"]: