Integrative Medicine: Freedom of Choice at Risk

Please pass this information on if you know someone with a chronic illness who seeks alternative care or uses complementary medicine in-conjunction with conventional care.

Patients are at risk.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) plan to censor integrative and complementary medicine. The censorship aims to restrict the practice of any doctor who offers, or treats their patients with integrative and complementary medicine; or offers these protocols as a health care solution.

From Integrative Medicine Freedom of Choice

The aim of the site is to help generate, and submit, a large body of evidence and case histories highlighting the positive impact integrative and complementary medicine has had, and continues to have, on people’s health and the ripple effect on families and friends.

Below: sourced from Integrative Medicine Freedom of Choice https://integrativemedicinefreedomofchoice.com

PATIENT CASE HISTORY: SUGGESTED STRUCTURE

We need to change the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) perception that DOCTORS practicing Integrative Medicine is risky for the patient.
We need them to understand that finding an Integrative Medicine doctor is lifesaving after years of no improvement in your health.

• We need them to understand that although costly at first if the result is a great improvement in lifestyle then the benefits far outweigh the cost.
• We need them to understand that doctors should not be penalized for a long consultation as that is the only way an Integrative Medicine doctor can find out all the information necessary for a clear diagnosis and individualized treatment plan.
• We need them to understand Integrative Medicine doctors should be rewarded not penalized.
• We need the MBA to understand that patients of Integrative Medicine doctors are notvulnerable- they are desperate for a return to health.

Convince the Medical Board of Australia by writing a submission to them now.

Write your own, or a family member’s, medical history showing the positive journey to health by being treated by an Integrative Medical Doctor and send it in. You can ask for it not to be made public. As well you can be brave and read this confusing consultation document and put in your own submission countering or agreeing to the points made.

The following is a suggested guide for composing your case history. This format has been created to ensure important issues are included and addressed in your submission. Use the format of Word document only please.

There seems to be a perception that integrative medicine is more risky than conservative medicine. Your story needs to show that, for you, integrative medicine has meant a better outcome. Short and detailed is better. One to two pages max. For privacy reasons do not mention the doctor’s name or the practice name or location.

In writing your health journey we recommend you include the following:

Title: Submission to MBA Consultation document on complementary and unconventional medicine and emerging treatments.

Who are you? (age sex and email address is enough) What are your main long term health problems?

What treatment did you undertake before you found an integrative health practitioner?

Describe what changed in your treatment when you found an integrative health practitioner.

Describe the effects of that treatment, including side effects, and the impact on your physical and mental health. Emphasize the benefits for your family and friends.

Emphasize any positive qualities about the standard of care from the medical practitioner.

Submit, by email, directly to The Medical Board of Australia. The email address is medboardconsultation@ahpra.gov.au

Important Note:
The email needs to be titled

“Consultation on complementary and unconventional medicine and emerging treatments.”

NOTE: On the website https://integrativemedicinefreedomofchoice.com

For those who would like the convenience there is a form set up on this site that can be completed, with an option to attach a document, so that when you click submit it will go directly to the Medical Board of Australia.

Always cc a copy to yourself.
You could send a copy to your local politician and to the Health Minister and Shadow

Health Minister to ensure they are aware of this major proposal to limit health care choice in Australia.

You can also post the submission in by mail to:

Executive Officer,
Medical Board of Australia, AHPRA,
GPO Box 9958
Melbourne VIC 3001

Remember it is recommended to keep to an ideal maximum submission length of 2 pages. This will make for a powerful concise case history.

The focus of your submission should be the journey you have taken to improved health highlighting the positive impact from using an integrative medicine doctors.

The MBA proposal will have a ripple effect on all of our lives if nothing is done and it is allowed to succeed. Everyone will be negatively affected by the proposed changes of this consultation paper.

Remember to pass this knowledge on to other persons and get them to ACT NOW!