Jail mooted for unethical alternative therapists

Alternative health practitioners such as homoeopaths and healers could be fined or jailed for breaching professional standards, under new powers for Victoria’s health watchdog being considered by the state government.

The scheme would allow Victoria’s Health Services Commissioner to ban or restrict alternative therapists’ practices if they breached a statutory code of conduct, and take court action to enforce the orders where necessary.

At present commissioner Beth Wilson is limited in her ability to deal with alternative therapists who behave unethically, because they are not regulated by national boards that can remove their right to practise — unlike doctors, nurses and dentists — via redwolf.newsvine.com