THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

220

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE BOARD OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TO PERMIT NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS LICENSED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2010, TO PERFORM PARENTERAL THERAPEUTICS.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State recognizes that naturopathic medicine includes all natural medicines, natural procedures, and natural therapeutics; and

 

     WHEREAS, all persons recognize that a snake naturally bites to inject venom; therefore, snake bites are a natural procedure of injection; and

 

     WHEREAS, all persons also recognize that bee stings, mosquito bites, leaches, stinging nettles, and vana (Hawaiian sea urchins) are all examples of injection as a natural procedure; and

 

     WHEREAS, all accredited professional schools of naturopathic medicine educate, train, and qualify students to perform parenteral therapeutics including intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous injection techniques and skills; and

 

     WHEREAS, the licensing examinations accepted by the State of Hawaii have included and covered parenteral therapeutics; and

 

     WHEREAS, licensing laws exist to insure a minimal level of competency; and

 

     WHEREAS, all past and present naturopathic physicians licensed by the Board of Naturopathic Medicine have performed and provided parenteral therapeutics and injections, as did all licensed naturopathic physicians under the prior licensing laws; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition to education, training, and examination, error-free and complaint-free performance demonstrates professional competency among naturopathic physicians; and

 

     WHEREAS, principles and practices of medicine, naturopathic medicine, and pharmacology often require the use of parenteral therapeutics for the health and wellness of patients, parenteral administration of medicines may often be a safer, more effective, and more congenial method of administration; and

 

     WHEREAS, Act 22, Session Laws of Hawaii (2009) amended chapter 455, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to specify that parenteral therapy is not allowed under the practice of naturopathic medicine until the Board of Naturopathic Medicine adopts rules relating to this practice; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Board of Naturopathic Medicine's naturopathic formulary, effective January 1, 2010, specifically prohibits the injection of formulary items; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Board of Naturopathic Medicine has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting and promoting public health by prohibiting licensed naturopathic physicians from performing parenteral therapeutics, thereby interrupting the ongoing health care of patients in Hawaii; creating a health care crisis for patients and their naturopathic physician providers; and risking the health, wellness, and lives of patients in need of parenteral therapeutics; and

 

WHEREAS, this failure violates Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that injection is a natural procedure; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Naturopathic Medicine is urged to adopt rules that grandfather all persons licensed under chapter 455, Hawaii Revised Statutes, prior to January 1, 2010, with regard to allowing those persons to perform intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous injection and prescribe, administer, and dispense naturopathic formulary substances manufactured for injection; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Attorney General, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the Chairperson of the Board of Naturopathic Medicine are urged to immediately:

 

     (1)  Remove the restrictive language in the naturopathic formulary prohibiting the prescription, administration, and dispensing of items in injectable form or by injection;

 

     (2)  Amend the naturopathic formulary to include the prescription, administration, and dispensation of items within the naturopathic formulary; and

 

     (3)  Publish the naturopathic formulary to reflect the necessary changes that will permit naturopathic physicians licensed prior to January 1, 2010, to administer parenteral therapeutics; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and the members of the Board of Naturopathic Medicine.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Naturopathic Formulary; Physicians