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Source: ONE News -
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The Ministry of Health is calling for the public to wise-up when choosing a natural health practitioner, after a woman treated by an unregistered practitioner developed a life-threatening disease.
Yvonne Maine from Fielding went to unregistered iridologist and natural health consultant Ruth Nelson approximately two years ago for help with what she believed was a cyst on her head.
By the time doctors finally saw the skin cancer 18 months later, it required extensive reconstruction surgery and months of cancer treatment.
Maine's doctors say Nelson should have ensured she was referred on, saying that it is what you would expect anyone to do who is looking after someone.
The case has sparked calls for more widespread regulations on natural health practitioners which the Ministry welcomes.
"There needs to be regulation; for the safety of the public, the benefit of the public," says Gerald Lopez of the Natural Health Council.
Currently, only chiropractors and osteopaths are regulated under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act. Acupuncturists and western herbal medicine are now being considered to join them.
However, that leaves at least 60 groups who are not, which is no overnight fix, says Dr David St George of the Ministry of Health.
"It's not easy to bring them all together, because we need clearly defined professions who can define standards and scopes of practice, and there needs to be sufficient numbers to justify the expense."
