Homeopathy regulations approved by state board

Monday, Aug. 28, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

RENO -- A regulation for licensed doctors to follow when using "nonconventional methods" of treatment such as acupuncture or homeopathy has been approved by the state Board of Medical Examiners.

The regulations, initially subject to controversy, were toned down, and there was no opposition at a meeting Saturday of the board.

Dr. Gary Holt, a licensed medical doctor and homeopath, called the rules a "good first step" by the board, which has too long ignored alternative means of treating patients.

"I've fixed a lot of patients whom conventional medicine could not fix," he told the board. "I'm a doctor, and I want to be regulated by this board."

Donald Baepler, a board member mainly responsible for the final draft of the regulation, said a lot of confusion was caused by the initial regulation, which many thought was intended to expand the authority of the medical examiners board.

"There were inferences we were trying to invade the turf of other licensing groups. We are not," he said.

Physicians using nonconventional methods will not be disciplined, but they must follow certain procedures in such treatments, the new rules say. Detailed records must be kept to include whether conventional treatments were tried and the results. Patients must give their informed consent to the unconventional treatment.

"I hope the documentation being required will be no different than a family physician," Holt said. "I hope this medical licensing board will wake up and take notice of the changes in medicine."

A battle has brewed between the Medical Examiners Board and the state Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners, which regulates practitioners of alternative treatments. The homeopathy board complains the medical board is trying to stop new methods. The new regulation allows alternative therapies as long as there is documentation and the patient knows what is going on.

The words "integrated" and "complementary" types of medicine seemed to confuse many who looked at the regulation, Baepler said. So those terms were deleted.

Baepler also said he had a string of letters from chiropractors who felt the medical board was trying to regulate that profession. That isn't true, he said.

In other business, the board agreed to support the Nevada Academy of Physicians Assistants in getting legislation to allow nurses to accept orders from physician assistants.