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Oct 26, 2005 9:11 am US/Mountain
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State Wants Regulation For Naturopathic Physicians
by Rick Sallinger
DENVER (CBS4) ―
A state agency has recommended that naturopathic physicians be regulated. The decision comes after the highly publicized death of a young man whose family thought they were taking him to a medical doctor. The man's family wants the state to follow through.
Sean Flanagan had cancer. His family took him to a naturopathic clinic for treatment. The name on the literature read "Dr. Brian O'Connell."
"We had somebody who called himself a doctor, all of the diplomas on his wall called him a doctor, we were under the impression this man knew what he was doing," Dave Flanagan, Sean's father told CBS4.
The family said O'Connell removed a small amount of their son's blood. He put it under ultraviolet light and then put the blood back in Sean's body along with hydrogen peroxide. Sean died the next day.
O'Connell was awaiting trial on manslaughter and other charges.
"People are dying because of those mistakes and people are not being accountable and there's nobody for these people to be accountable to and they need that," Laura Flanagan, Sean's mother said.
The state Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has recommended that Colorado regulate qualified naturopathic physicians. It offers three options; licensing, qualifications for use of the title "naturopathic doctor" and exemption from the Medical Practice Act which allow naturopaths to practice if they meet standardized qualifications.
Dr. Rena Bloom, the head of Colorado Association of Naturopathic Physicians said she welcomes licensing for those who are properly educated.
"I think it holds the practitioners accountable for who they are and what they are doing and who they are calling themselves," Bloom told CBS4.
The state legislature will have to give the OK for licensing to take effect.
"The recommendation is before us and I read DORA's recommendation that this is an appropriate and safe move for the state," Rep. Betty Boyd, D-Jefferson County, said.
Boyd is the chairwoman of the State House Health and Human Services committee.
Sean Flanagan's parents are pushing for the licensing.
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia already have regulated and licensed naturopathic physicians.
(Copyright © MMV CBS Television Stations, Inc.)