Carolinians For Health Care Access

Learning About Medical Options and Protecting Our Rights
to Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Health Care
 

Carolinians for Health Care Access (CHCA)

Ray Fisher, President
828-273-0795

CHCA, founded in 1992 by patients of Integrative Medicine, is reactivating to oppose the renewed efforts of the NC Medical Board to prevent NC citizens from choosing treatments that not only improve health, but can literally save lives. Integrative Medicine is a combination of mainstream and alternative medicine practices and incorporates the best of both practices into comprehensive treatment plans. Integrative Medical physicians look at the whole person, not just one symptom.

Despite the General Assembly twice tightening the Medical Practice Act in 1993 and in 2003, the Board continues to harass Integrative physicians. It is outrageous that when the mainstream doctors have no treatments (or just unacceptable, risky treatments) to offer, the Medical Board blocks the citizen’s choices by selectively monitoring and disciplining Integrative physicians. Why aren’t they excited and interested to learn from Integrative Medicine physicians? Many patients who have, in effect, been sent home to die by mainstream doctors, find Integrative Medicine physicians and survive. What does the Medical Board do? Forces Integrative Medical physicians out of the state, restricts or revokes their licenses, or continues years of harassment.

The Medical Board typically refuses to hear the testimony of expert witnesses on behalf of Integrative Medicine physicians in their harassment hearings. Rather than investigating harm to patients, the Board targets Integrative physicians.

Investigation of Licensed Physicians - 2002
All physicians - 1%
Physicians convicted of 2 malpractice incidents - 8%
Integrative Physicians - 18%

CHCA Position

  • Require the Medical Board to hear the testimony of expert witnesses knowledgeable about the particular Integrative Medical treatment under investigation.
  • Further tighten the Medical Practice Act so the Medical Board can not discipline physicians unless they prove harm to patients.
  • Education the public about the benefits of Integrative Medicine.

10/13/07 – The National Foundation for Women Legislators passed a resolution on State Medical Boards condemning behavior that they said undermined the doctor-patient relationship, denied physicians due process, and reduced the quality of medical care in this country.  The actions they specifically wanted eliminated were the following:

  • Acceptance of anonymous complaints from insurance companies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, attorneys, and competitors.
  • Acceptance of opinions from “expert” witnesses.
  • Lack of accountability of the Board members.
  • Prohibition of notes and recordings from hearing and informal meetings.
  • Denial of integrative medicine physicians their due process.
  • Administration of disciplinary action for menial or trivial records’ findings.
  • Use of tactics of intimidation.
  • Forcing of settlements.
  • Ignoring conflicts of interest that arise regarding members of the Board.