July 22, 2010 - Court Bars Unlicensed Acupuncturists June 28, 2010 - Public Notification: Victoria man found guilty of illegal practice of acupuncture Nov. 08, 2007 - Press Confrerence : Lawsuit Claims Use of Credentials Defies Provincial Health Laws Nov. 08, 2007 - Press Confrerence : Lawsuit Claims Use of Credentials Defies Provincial Health Laws Lawsuit Claims Use of Credentials Defies Provincial Health Laws ＃The Public is Being Put at Risk In a move to safeguard unsuspecting patients, the professional body that governs the practice of traditional Chinese medicine in B.C. is taking the unusual step of going to court to stop an organization from granting credentials that are being mistaken for legal authority to set up shop. Established by the legislature in 1996, the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of B.C. is one of 24 bodies that govern the health professions in the province. One of its key roles is to ensure that those it licenses are competent and accountable to a public authority. ※The College＊s responsibility to protect the public is accomplished by assuring that only qualified and accountable practitioners provide services,§ emphasized Dr. Arden Henley, CTCMA chair. In a suit filed October 12, 2007 in the Federal Court, the CTCMA seeks an injunction barring the organization, Council of Natural Medicine College of Canada, from granting various titles it has sought to trade-mark, including R.Ac. (Registered Acupuncturist) and D.T.C.M. (Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine). Under B.C. law, only the CTCMA can confer those credentials. -more- Lawsuit Claims Use of Credentials＃ However the organization has applied to the federal government, which governs trade-marks, for ownership of those credentials to permit others to use them as it sees fit. In the lawsuit, the CTCMA states that the organization is advertising the credentials as legitimate qualifications to use in practice. It also says those paying for the credentials could be confused into thinking they have legal authority to practice. The lawsuit also alleges the organization has passed itself off as a regulatory body, by writing to municipalities here, including the City of Vancouver, purporting to be responsible for accrediting educational programs throughout Canada, and also claiming it plays a regulatory role to ensure the protection of the public. The CTCMA has alerted all provincial municipalities about the credentials issue to prevent unregistered individuals from receiving business licences but concerns about public confusion remain. The B.C. Ministry of Health has communicated its concerns about such use of trade-marks to the federal Minister of Health and to the Registrar of Trade-marks. ※As increasing numbers of British Columbians seek traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture treatment, it is of paramount importance that the public continue to be protected and that they not be confused,§ stated Dr. Henley