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Friday June 20, 2008 - 6:00 PM at the Connecticut Holistic Health Association JBG Theater here at Stonington Natural Health Center,  107 Wilcox Road  Suite 103 • Stonington, CT 06378         Protecting the Right of the Patient to Choose and the Practitioner to Practice Guest Speaker -  Robban A. Sica, MD

 

   9 Steps to Understanding Health Freedom

   Who Should Choose For You?                                      

Do you believe that you should have open access to all health disciplines, whether they are based in complementary, alternative, or conventional therapies?  .

   Why Do Consumers Choose Natural Therapies?           

Complementary and alternative care is typically less expensive, less invasive and more in tune with our body's natural healing process. Alternative health practices integrate a spectrum of therapies aimed at restoring health to the body and reducing dependence on prescription drugs and surgery.

   Who Provides These Therapies?                                   

Many holistic services are provided by well-trained, certified practitioners for whom no licensure is available. These groups include homeopathy, nutritional counseling, hydrotherapy, reflexology, and energy healing such as polarity therapy and Reiki. Increasing numbers of licensed physicians as well are utilizing complementary and alternative methods in their practice to provide optimal treatment for their patients.

   Are You Free To Choose?                                                    

Increasingly, consumers are forced by government into specific forms of medical treatment against their will. Consumers are routinely denied access to health care options, especially non-mainstream therapies. State governments are taking children away from their parents for not vaccinating them. Children have been forced to undergo chemotherapy against their parents' wishes. 

   Does It Pay To Be Different?                                                

 

Alternative and integrative methods are considered "different" than the conventional so-called "standard of care". Doctors who practice these therapies can face legal action for violating this unwritten code.
Non-licensed practitioners can be criminally charged for practicing "medicine" without a license (regardless of their training in exclusive use of non-invasive therapies).

 

These well meaning practitioners are being forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars defending their livelihoods for doing nothing other than helping patients to get well in a way that is "different" from conventional doctors.  The regulatory boards in Connecticut do not even need a consumer complaint or evidence of harm to take action against your healthcare practitioner! 
 

   Consumers Should Have The Freedom To...                  

 

Access ALL health care options to support personal wellness and the ability to choose practitioners that best meet their needs and beliefs. When holistic practitioners are not allowed to practice, consumers are denied access to these natural therapies. 
 

   Practitioners Should Have The Right To ...                     

 

Practice without fear. Educate consumers about their health care choices. And the freedom to make referrals to other alternative practitioners.

 

   New Laws Are Essential To...                                              

• Assure that consumers have the right to make their own very personal decisions regarding their health care
• Clarify overly broad and outdated statutes defining the practice of medicine
• Insure due process in the administrative courts to assure constitutional rights for practitioners
• Clarify and codify the role of non-licensed practitioners

Join with us to protect your Freedom!
Every Connecticut citizen has a vested interest in preserving health freedom. Joining together, we will successfully raise awareness of this issue and enact comprehensive legislation to insure balance between individual rights to self-determination and free choice and the government's concerns for public safety.
A strong state coalition speaking with a united voice will send a clear message that we demand health freedom.

Imagine the impact we could have when every consumer becomes active in this constitutional process.

All individuals and groups interested to preserve their freedom of access to complete health care. The purpose of this call is to build a strong state coalition with a united voice, and send a clear message that we demand health freedom. A more acceptable balance must be created between individual rights to self-determination and free choice, and the government's concerns for public safety.

 

Connecticut Heath Freedom Coalition - Purpose CTHFC has been formed exclusively as a non-partisan state-based organization.  The purpose of CTHFC shall be to protect the right of the consumer to choose suitable health modalities and defend the right of the practitioner to practice with the following functions:  1.        Increase public awareness of potential threats to health freedom 2.        Preserve, promote and improve health freedoms 3.        Represent and speak for the health freedom community to the media, governmental groups, and the general public. 4.        Participate and assist in the development and determination of state public policy with respect to issues related to health freedom. 5.        Establish a network of organizations to educate about and defend health freedoms. 6.        Organize and engage in public and private lobbying efforts with respect to issues related to health freedom. 7.        Defend the health freedom community against discriminating legislation and regulation. 8.        Inspire and foster camaraderie among health freedom groups as well as individuals interested in these issues. 9.        Raise funds. 10.     Align with national organization, American Association for Health Freedom.  Connecticut Heath Freedom Coalition, Inc is organized exclusively for such purposes as are authorized and permitted by Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) and permitted under D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. § 29-301.01 et seq. Section 501(c)(4) status pending approval.