theglobeandmail.com on Naturopathy 2016-06

here, my comments on a recent messy article on naturopathy in Canada:

001. at theglobeandmail.com, John Lehmann in "Child’s Death Becomes Lightning Rod" (2016-06-26):

"Ezekiel Stephan['s death...and] the trial of the parents, David and Collett Stephan, revolved around parental responsibility. It also became a lightning rod for debate about alternative medicine, triggering a barrage of mostly negative coverage that focused on the dubious science behind some naturopathic treatments [...like what was given for the child by a naturopath,] an echinacea tincture [...] the concern echoes critics’ complaints that regulating naturopathy opens the door to suspect and potentially harmful treatment, including homeopathy, a naturopathic mainstay that involves using massively diluted solutions and has been debunked in studies [...]";

well, naturopathy IS an unethical sectarian pseudoscience.  Nobody seems to note that echinacea is not effective.

"relatively few naturopaths in Canada have faced disciplinary sanctions.  Manitoba, where naturopaths have been regulated since 1946, has had no disciplinary proceedings, and the registrar for the Manitoba Naturopathic Association – the province is moving to a self-regulating college for naturopaths – 'respectfully declined any comment' on whether the association has received complaints in recent years [...] the death of a child has pushed naturopathic medicine into the spotlight, and with it, the question of whether the current regulatory regime does enough to protect the public. 'I am absolutely appalled that, in four years, the [College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta] has not required even a single naturopath to undergo discipline of any kind,' says Michelle Cohen, an Ontario general physician who spearheaded the complaint to the CNDA stemming from the Stephan trial.CNDA president Beverly Huang said all complaints received by the college have been handled in accordance with Alberta’s Health Professions Act. The act includes provisions for confidential settlements through an alternative complaint-resolution process [...]";

ah, the beauty of self-regulation, no transparency.

"even some naturopathic doctors do not use homeopathy. Chris Spooner is among them. The licensed naturopathic doctor and CNPBC board member does not use homeopathy in his practice in Vernon, B.C. As a self-described science-based practitioner, he said he cannot 'wrap my head around it' [...]";

how polite.  Instead of honestly saying it's pseudoscience.  Such an honest label would be TRUE.