As a practicing acupuncturist in Nova Scotia, the recent CBC News article detailing a disturbing incident involving an Ontario-based acupuncturist, Kyung Chun Oh, left me both aghast and deeply concerned. This case underscores an urgent issue we must address in Nova Scotia: the critical need for acupuncture regulation.
As per the article, Oh convinced a cancer survivor to cease his thyroid medication, promising that acupuncture could regenerate his removed thyroid. This is a claim wholly unsupported by scientific evidence. To be clear: Acupuncture cannot regrow organs.
Tragically, this patient was admitted to the hospital with life-threatening hypothyroidism, a direct result of following Oh’s ill-advised recommendation. Oh’s license was rightfully suspended for twelve months, but the damage was done.
As an acupuncturist, I’m appalled by Oh’s actions. Misleading a patient, especially one as vulnerable as a cancer survivor, is deeply irresponsible. It not only endangered S.K.’s life but also undermined the trustworthiness of our entire profession.
This unsettling incident is not just about one practitioner’s misconduct. It points to a broader issue in provinces where the regulation of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is non-existent.
The Wild West of Acupuncture in NS
Here in Nova Scotia, where unregulated acupuncture prevails, such an incident could occur more easily than we’d like to think. Anyone, regardless of their training or understanding of Chinese medicine, could hang up a shingle and start treating patients.
Imagine, for instance, a well-meaning but inexperienced acupuncturist promising a diabetic patient that acupuncture could replace their insulin. Or consider an insufficiently trained practitioner who fails to recognize a patient’s serious disease, leading to delayed medical intervention. The results could be catastrophic.
Acupuncture regulation serves to protect not just the patients, but also the practitioners and the profession. It could provide a system to handle complaints, ensure fair oversight processes are in place, and increase public trust.
To be fair, Kyung Chun Oh obtained his Ontario acupuncture registration through a grand-parenting program and didn’t have to write the regulatory exams. This illustrates that, even in regulated provinces, the system is not perfect and professional misconduct can occur. This unfortunate incident should nevertheless serve as a warning for us in Nova Scotia to fast-track acupuncture regulation.
Patient Education is Paramount
As healthcare providers, we bear the responsibility to ensure our patients’ safety and earn their trust. Instituting regulations for the practice of acupuncture and TCM will help us guarantee that treatments remain safe, effective, and trustworthy. We must, however, acknowledge that regulation of acupuncture and TCM in Nova Scotia will take time. It’s therefore just as important for us to educate the public on what they should look for in an acupuncturist, in a province with unregulated acupuncture.
A quick search on google maps for “acupuncturist” displays 90 listings in the Halifax Regional Municipality alone. Before making an appointment with ANY practitioner, my personal recommendation is to ask the following questions:
Questions to ask your acupuncturist before your first appointment
Do you view acupuncture and Chinese medicine as complementary medicine, or as alternative medicine?
Practitioners who promote their services as a miraculous alternative to Western medicine are, quite simply, putting patients in danger and the profession at risk.
Do you have formal academic training in acupuncture or Chinese medicine?
Make sure that they have undergone a formal study program.
How many hours of training did your program consist of?
A minimum of 2000 hours of schooling is the recommended standard.
When did you graduate?
Any health professional will attest to the fact that it takes 3-5 years of practice to really develop therapeutic skill. Recent graduates should practice under the supervision and mentorship of a senior practitioner during that time. Deciding to open their own clinic immediately after graduation increases risk to patients.
How many treatments do you do a month?
Practitioners who perform less than 40 treatments a month are not gaining or maintaining the necessary experience needed to ensure patient safety and treatment efficacy. Assuming a full time, 5 day work week, 40 treatments a month boils down to just 2 treatments a day.
Concluding Remarks
Acupuncture and TCM have much to offer when administered responsibly and ethically. They provide relief for many conditions, from pain to digestive issues, and serve as a valuable complement to Western medicine. However, to preserve their efficacy and safeguard public trust, regulatory oversight and patient education is crucial. Unregulated acupuncture and Chinese medicine needs to be addressed. Our patients, our profession, and our conscience deserve nothing less.