Writing for the Boulder Daily Camera‘s Editorial Board, Erika Stutzman admirably defends individual freedom & responsibly by opposing Colorado House Bill 11-1173, which would prohibit naturopathic physicians from practicing without a license. She writes:

If people want to seek the services of a naturopathic practitioner, they are free to do so in Colorado. They would be free to do so whether that person attended one of few programs for naturopathic doctors in the United States, or not. It’s buyer beware — it’s up to the patients to do their due diligence on the person’s practice and education. And depending on their ailments, a chat with their own primary care physician would be a good idea, but let’s face it: Going to a doctor, going to a naturopath, or choosing to self-diagnose some illness on WebMD are consumer choices. All of that is up to patients, now and in the future.

Read the whole article: The fight over naturopathy – Boulder Daily Camera.

For a critique of medical licensing laws, see “Medical Licensing: An Obstacle to Affordable, Quality Care, ” by economist Shirley Svorny.