WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989
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MORE CONSULTATION ON MEDICAL BILL NECESSARY
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BILL 1989
THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (AMENDMENT) WARRANTS FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OMELCO HEALTH PANEL SHOULD INDEPENDENTLY CONSULT ALL ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL GROUPS CONCERNED, THE HON ELSIE TU SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SAYING SHE WOULD VOTE AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS TU SAID WHEN THE BILL WAS IMPLEMENTED AND WHEN THE BOARDS OF RELEVANT SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS INTRODUCED THEIR CODES OF PRACTICE, SOME SUPPLEMENTARY PRACTITIONERS WOULD BE AFFECTED OR EVEN PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.
"NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN CONSULTED, SHE SAID.
MRS TU NOTED THAT THE HARDEST HIT WOULD BE THE CHIROPRACTORS, MOST OF WHOM HAD THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WOULD ENTITLE THEM TO PRACTISE AS REGISTERED DOCTORS IN OVERSEAS COUNTRIES BUT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO REGISTER IN HONG KONG BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SUCH REGISTRATION SYSTEM.
SHE SAID THAT THE TRAINING OF A CHIROPRACTOR WAS AS LONG AS THAT OF A GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND. IN ADDITION. THE CHIROPRACTOR UNDERWENT X-RAY TRAINING WHILE A GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER DID NOT.
"YET IF THIS BILL AND THE CODES OF PRACTICE ARE IMPLEMENTED AS THEY NOW STAND, THE CHIROPRACTOR WILL HAVE NO ACCESS TO X-RAY CLINICS EXCEPT BY REFERRAL THROUGH A GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
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"THIS CREATES AN IMPOSSIBLE OBSTACLE SINCE THE DOCTOR WILL NOT RECOGNISE CHIROPRACTIC AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. SHE SAID.
MRS TU SAID THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BILL WOULD ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT RECOGNISED AND QUALIFIED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS BECAUSE THE SUPERVISION PERIOD NOW PROPOSED.
OF
TRAINED
"IT IS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE THAT A FULLY PHYSIOTHERAPIST IS SAID TO REQUIRE SUPERVISION. WHILE A GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONER CAN PRACTISE PHYSIOTHERAPY WITHOUT ANY TRAINING WHATEVER IN THAT DISCIPLINE, AND MOREOVER DOCTORS CAN TRAIN ANY UNTRAINED ASSISTANT то CARRY OUT PHYSIOTHERAPY UNDER HIS OWN INSTRUCTIONS." SHE SAID.
MRS TU SAID THAT TO INTRODUCE CODES OF PRACTICE THAT COMPELLED THE PUBLIC TO SEE A GENERAL PRACTITIONER BEFORE THEY COULD HAVE AN X-RAY. AND TO EXCLUDE BY THIS METHOD THE ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH THE PATIENT MIGHT WISH TO TAKE. SEEMED TO BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO CHOOSE. AND AT THE TIME FORCING THEM TO PAY TWICE FOR WHAT THEY GOT.
SAME
/SHE ALSO
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