Introduction:
Over the last several years, a growing number of regulated health professions have begun using the term “acupuncture” in describing their suite of treatments for illness and injury. Use of the term by those without a licence to practice acupuncture is misleading and potentially dangerous to the public. Moreover, use of the term acupuncture by unaccredited practitioners may also erode the credibility and practices of bona fide practitioners.
As such, regulation governing the term acupuncture should:
- Be applied to practitioners ensuring they are duly licenced to practice the discipline in Ontario.
- Ensure unaccredited practitioners undertaking treatments using needles and or pressure points should define their modalities as something other than acupuncture.
The title “Acupuncturist” is protected and reserved for members of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO), however, regulated professionals from other colleges who have acupuncture within their scope of practice may legally perform acupuncture procedures, subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations of their registration, professional standards and defined scope of practice.
Performed by TCM trained and accredited practitioners, including Registered Acupuncturists and Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners, acupuncture is a safe, highly reliable and effective treatment for a broad spectrum of injuries, illnesses and addictions. It is also highly effective at managing pain without reliance on opioids and other chemical painkillers that can cause unintended medical complications.
Registered Acupuncturists (R.Ac.’s) and Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (R.TCMP.’s) have well in excess of 2,200 hours of instruction and internships and are trained to diagnose a wide range of illnesses and injuries within the scope of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Regulated health professionals who are members of their respective provincial regulatory colleges and whose scope of practice includes acupuncture are authorized to perform acupuncture procedures within their delineated scope of practice. For example, in Ontario, certain regulated health professionals who are members of other Colleges listed under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, may be exempt from restrictions on performing acupuncture, provided they practice within their professional scope and standards.
This includes professions such as medical doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, and massage therapists, who may use acupuncture as part of their regulated practice where authorized by their provincial legislation and regulatory bodies.
In Ontario, acupuncture practised by persons without TCM training and/or professional credentials is leading to injuries, patient/consumer complaints, and collateral health effects requiring new or additional healthcare intervention. Some practitioners have less than 20 hours of training and virtually no oversight in practicing the acupuncture discipline.
By better defining the scope of acupuncture and TCM practice, Ontario can improve its healthcare delivery as well as patient outcomes.
Current Status:
The Ontario Ministry of Health is regularly reviewing scope of practice for many of the province’s Registered Health Professionals (RHPs). Review by MOH requires significant and targeted consultation.
Ask:
Traditional Chinese Medicine Ontario (TCMO) be fully consulted and enabled to provide input relevant to the scope of practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.
That only practitioners registered with the CTCMPAO use the term acupuncture.
For more information, please contact:
Katrina Dollano, Vice-President, TCMO: katrina.dollano@tcmo.ca
Heather Kenny, President, TCMO: heather.kenny@tcmo.ca