Letter: Law unfairly limits practice of acupuncture

Monday, March 19, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

In response to Steve Kanigher's article, "Sticking points": Unless the outdated law governing practicing privileges to American-educated graduates with a master's of science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine is changed during this current session, Nevada will continue to lose its sons and daughters to other states.

The law was written in a time when Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, had been taught by apprenticeship and, prior to the United States establishing a system of traditional oriental medical colleges with accreditation by the National Council of Acupuncture Schools and Colleges, recognized by the Department of Education.

My research suggests that Kyung Hee University, where the three practitioners on the Nevada Board of Oriental Medicine graduated, apparently allows a high school student to complete only a six-year curriculum without additional appreticeship prior to being granted a license to open an Oriental medicine clinic and provide patients with Oriental medical examination and treatment services. So why does the state of Nevada continue to impose a double standard to American-educated postsecondary graduates?

As Kanigher states in his article, "It so happens that all licensed practitioners in Nevada have either Chinese or Korean surnames, and most were educated in Asia." My daughter, Farolyn McSweeney, has an Irish name and educated at one of the most highly respected schools in the United States, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is located in San Francisco. What a shame if she is not allowed the practicing privilege of setting up her practice in her home state of Nevada and her hometown of Henderson! Does the law need to be changed? Of course!

JOAN MCSWEENEY