Commission to educate non-registered practitioners amid fears people are being ripped off

NATUROPATHS, massage therapists and other alternative medicine providers will be targeted by the state’s health watchdog under a new plan to crack down on those exploiting clients, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

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NATUROPATHS, massage therapists and other alternative medicine providers will be targeted by the state’s health watchdog under a new plan to crack down on those exploiting clients.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Health Care Complaints Commission is planning on rolling out education for non-registered practitioners following concerns about individuals who are ripping off clients or making false claims about curing illnesses.

It comes amid growing concern in the medical community about patients shunning doctors for health coaches and other “wellness education” types.

Alternative medicine providers such as massage therapists will be targeted by NSW’s health watchdog. Picture: Supplied

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Registered practitioners include doctors, nurses, midwives, chiropractors and psychologists.

Non-registered practitioners are those such as naturopaths, whose titles are not regulated and have varying levels of qualifications.

The education would focus on ensuring they are aware of the code of conduct which bans them from encouraging clients to ditch registered health practitioners such as doctors.

The code also says they must not misinform or financially exploit customers.

Liberal MP Adam Crouch, who is chair of the Committee of the HCCC, said it should start targeting membership groups for non-registered practitioners.

This could include naturopath and massage therapist industry bodies.

Liberal MP Adam Crouch said membership groups should be targeted for non-registered practitioners. Picture: Supplied

“A challenge of targeting education at unregistered practitioners (is) not knowing who they are,” Mr Crouch said.

AMA NSW President Kean-Seng Lim said traditionally there had been less scrutiny on non-registered practitioners from watchdogs.

“I fully support all health practitioners having the same level of accountability for what they provide or recommend,” Dr Lim said, adding there were growing concerns about claims being made on health by people in the “wellness industry” that were not evidence based.

Earlier this year Marilyn Pauline Bodnar was sentenced to jail after encouraging a mother to only drink water and eat watermelon to help “cure” her son’s eczema. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Earlier this year Sydney naturopath Marilyn Pauline Bodnar was sentenced to a maximum of 14 months’ jail after she encouraged a breastfeeding mother to consume only water and watermelon for three days as a way to “cure” her son’s eczema.

The eight-month boy had to be taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead suffering from severe malnourishment and developmental issues after his mother followed the diet.