User talk:Ncnmwriter

Welcome to The Wikipedia Adventure!

 * Hi Ncnmwriter! We're so happy you wanted to play to learn, as a friendly and fun way to get into our community and mission.  I think these links might be helpful to you as you get started.
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Start Page
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Lounge
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-- 20:11, Thursday, March 17, 2016 (UTC)

Welcome to The Wikipedia Adventure!

 * Hi Ncnmwriter! We're so happy you wanted to play to learn, as a friendly and fun way to get into our community and mission.  I think these links might be helpful to you as you get started.
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Start Page
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Lounge
 * The Teahouse new editor help space
 * Wikipedia Help pages

-- 19:21, Friday, March 18, 2016 (UTC)

Welcome to The Wikipedia Adventure!

 * Hi Ncnmwriter! We're so happy you wanted to play to learn, as a friendly and fun way to get into our community and mission.  I think these links might be helpful to you as you get started.
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Start Page
 * The Wikipedia Adventure Lounge
 * The Teahouse new editor help space
 * Wikipedia Help pages

-- 19:22, Friday, March 18, 2016 (UTC)

employee of NCNM

Quoting from this article: "NCNM's programs are controversial for teaching subjects that are considered pseudoscience and quackery by the scientific and medical communities."

This article would be improved and more balanced by removing the loaded terms "quackery" and "pseudoscience." While NCNM's programs are controversial to some, labeling a fully accredited school's curriculum as based on pseudoscience is unfair in part because it is impossible to fully refute. For instance, one could argue that a certain herb or pharmaceutical lacked adequate research to prove its efficacy, and cite third party studies to back that up. On the other hand, it would be fairly easy to call the drug or herb "useless" or a "fraud," also with third party citations. That kind of name calling, even with attribution, is perhaps appropriate in a magazine article where bias can be expected, but not in an encyclopedia where balanced discussion is valued.

So, to further add balance and quality to the article, I offer the following information:

“Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are trained as primary care physicians in 4-year, accredited doctoral-level naturopathic medical schools. At present, there are 15 US states, 2 US territories, and several provinces in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that recognize licensure for NDs.”2 Prim Care. 2010 Mar; 37(1):119-36. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2009.09.002 Fleming SA, Gutknecht NC.

In addition, states are generally not in the business of licensing quackery and pseudo-science:

Naturopathic physician licensing, training, Oregon Revised Statutes

Oregon Law makes it clear that only licensed naturopaths are allowed to call themselves Doctor of Naturopathy, or NDs.undefined1 In order to qualify for licensing, Doctors of Naturopathy must complete at least two years of liberal arts study and graduate from an accredited naturopathic school or college.undefined2 In addition, every licensed Doctor of Naturopathy must complete at least 25 hours of continuing education and an approved pain management program.undefined3

undefined1 1685.020 Chapter 2, http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/685.020 undefined2 685.060 Minimum educational requirements for license • rules http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/685.060 undefined3 685.102 Continuing education required http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/685.102

The article on NCNM ends with the same assertions about quackery and pseudoscience. Again, while there is room for debate on the scientific merits of herbalism, acupuncture, etc., name calling does little to further this debate.

A further look at the NCNM naturopathic curriculum shows that acupuncture, herbalism and homeopathy are not part of the core requirements for a doctoral degree, but are offered as electives. Core courses include anatomy, microbiology, immunology, physiology, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, hematology, oncology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, dermatology, psychology and several other typical medical school courses: 2015–2016 Course Catalog, ND Four-Year Curriculum, page 49 http://studentservices.ncnm.edu/files/2013/03/2015-16_NCNM_course_catalog_FINAL1.pdf

As for primary care, naturopathic physicians are recognized as primary care providers (PPCs), both by the State of Oregon and the Federal government under the Affordable Care Act: Naturopathic clinic designated as top tier primary care facility http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2015/08/naturopathic_clinic_designated.html and Nicole Patterson, Health Resources and Service Administration, letter to committee members, Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium, Oct. 17, 2010, p. 2 http://www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/shortage/meetings/20101013/ihpccomment.pdf

Ncnmwriter (talk) 19:36, 22 March 2016 (UTC)ncnmwriter

This has already been answered. See my comments on the relevant talk page. Timothy Joseph Wood 18:48, 15 April 2016 (UTC)