The American Medical Association (AMA) formed the Scope of Practice Partnership (SPP) November 2005 in response to a resolution introduced to the AMA House of Delegates.  The resolution voiced member concerns of unwarranted expansions in non-physician health professional scope of practice.

Once formed, the SPP will serve as a resource center for medical doctors, state legislatures, courts and regulatory agencies concerned with scope of practice and qualification issues related to these non-physician groups.

Naturopathic physicians were among the multiple groups slated for further investigation by the SPP.

Naturopathic physicians are currently licensed as primary care doctors in 14 states and the District of Columbia, with licensing efforts moving forward in 8 additional states.  To attain a doctorate of naturopathic medicine, naturopathic physicians complete a 4-year post-graduate program, from 1 of 5 naturopathic medical schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.  The program consists of coursework comparable to allopathic medical curricula in terms of basic and diagnostic sciences in the first two years, with an average of 1125 hours of basic science training, and clinical training with rotations in excess of 800 patient hours in the final two years.  Students sit for rigorous national medical board examinations and upon successful completion of the examinations, they qualify for state licensure to practice naturopathic medicine.

Licensed naturopathic doctors have similar concerns to the AMA with regard to expansion of scope of practice among unqualified non-physician complementary and alternative healthcare professionals. “Licensed naturopathic doctors are trained to safely and effectively serve the public as primary care physicians and to communicate relevant information to allopathic providers participating in patient care.  We perform physical examinations appropriate to the patient’s presenting complaints and medical history, and employ conventional laboratory and diagnostic imaging services as needed.  As natural medicine experts, our treatment modalities often include clinical nutrition, lifestyle modification, botanical medicine, homeopathy and mind-body therapies, “states Dr. Gina L. Nick, ND, a licensed naturopathic doctor and president of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA). 

Dr. Jonathon Collin, MD, has a private medical practice in Port Townsend, WA and is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. He has extensive experience working with licensed naturopathic physicians and supports their efforts to preserve scope of practice for NDs.  He states, "I have had firsthand experience working together with licensed Naturopathic Physicians and see this group of physicians as experts in natural medicine, highly qualified to serve the public as primary care doctors alongside medical doctors."

Patient safety is a primary concern among licensed naturopathic physicians. They are trained to identify conditions and medical situations outside of their scope of practice or professional limitations.  “As a profession we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, oftentimes partnering with conventionally trained primary care physicians and specialists in co-managing patients or referring them for appropriate evaluation and treatment,” says Nick.

Preserving scope of practice for licensed naturopathic physicians is a primary focus of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association.  “Thwarting licensed naturopathic doctor scope of practice would mean blocking access to the only formally trained resource for natural medicine integration within our modern healthcare model”, states Dr. Keegan Sheridan, ND, licensed naturopathic doctor and member of the Board of Directors for the CNDA.  Dr. Monique Mazza, ND also a licensed naturopathic doctor and vice president of the CNDA states, “ Our association feels confident that once the AMA and SPP fully understand the complexity of naturopathic medical training and our unrelenting concern for patient safety that attention will be shifted away from naturopathic doctors and instead be directed towards health professionals with less education.”   

About the California Naturopathic Doctors AssociationThe California Naturopathic Doctors Association (CNDA) is a professional membership association representing California Naturopathic Doctors (NDs). The CNDA is dedicated to advancing the principles of naturopathic medicine and expanding California consumers' access to this important natural, prevention-based form of healthcare. Visit www.CALND.org .