History of Naturopathic Licensing in Alaska
Almost twenty years ago, the legal status of naturopathic physicians practicing in Alaska came to a head when the Alaska State Medical Board sent a notice to Patton Pettijohn, ND, to stop treating patients in his Anchorage office. There had never been a complaint filed against Dr. Pettijohn in the five years he had been treating patients in Alaska. However, because his naturopathic doctorate and his license were both from Oregon, their opinion was that he was practicing medicine without a license and he would have to stop. That was in September, 1984.
Licensing efforts in many states had become a consumer rights issue in the eighties. Consumers had a right to know that their health care provider had met rigorous standards for education, training and testing. Prior to this time, the Alaska’s Attorney General had written a letter stating that, since the medical board refused to allow Dr. Cary Jasper to sit for the board exam; he could practice naturopathic medicine without a license and would not be under their jurisdiction. In 1986, the Alaska State Superior Court disagreed. The judge ruled that because there was no licensing for naturopathic physicians in Alaska, Dr. Pettijohn would fall under the jurisdiction of the medical board. He was forced to close his naturopathic office-a dark day for the profession in Alaska. Three other naturopathic physicians practicing in Alaska would have charges filed against them next. These four physicians, with overwhelming public support, lobbied the Alaska State Legislature to pass a naturopathic licensing bill. Within two months of the Pettijohn decision, Governor Bill Sheffield signed a law licensing naturopaths to practice in Alaska in May, 1986.
In January, 2004, the Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians proposed legislation to the 23rd Alaska State Legislature that would have expanded the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors in Alaska. The proposed legislation easily passed in the Senate (19-1) but was stalled in the House in May, 2004. A re-written bill was passed that established a task force with representatives from the naturopathic, medical, nursing, pharmacist, physician’s assistants professions to work with legislators in order to “…contribute to a better understanding of issues related to the safety and scope of the practice on naturopathy …”
Licensing is still a consumer rights issue. Naturopathic physicians’ focus on preventive measures lowers long term health costs. When a conventional prescription medication is indicated, having to make another appointment with another provider only presents an unnecessary barrier to appropriate care. The public has a right to access naturopathic medicine as a reliable health care option. Updating Alaska’s naturopathic licensing law to reflect the current status of naturopathic medical education is in the best interests of communities throughout our great state.