Acupuncture Courses

Re: Acupuncture Courses

StephSVN — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:14:06 GMT

I was taught the legislation as part of a module at uni which was an optional module taught mainly for the equine science students, so everything was focussed from non nursing perspective.

The law catergorises 'alternative' therapies into 4 catergories, supposedly according to the potential for harm.

Behavioural therapy can be carried out by anyone, as long as no medication is required, in which case a vet must be consulted (obviously).

Manipulative therapy (physio, osteopathy, chiropractic) - the animal must be under a vets care for the particular issue being treated, and the vet must discuss treatment with the therapist (this aspect is the most often ignored in the equine world)

'Faith healing' covers things such as crystal therapy, deemed to have no risk of potential damage to the patient and so not regulated, and a vet does not have to be involved at any stage.

Everything else, including acupuncture, and I think homeopathy etc, is classed as 'other'. These must be carried out by a currently registered veterinary surgeon as there is potential for harm to be caused, and the therapy is not fully understood.

The reason legislation for animals being more protected is that if a humans condition was made worse by a treatment, they could make the decision to stop having it, but the animal cannot make that decision.

Re: Acupuncture Courses

Aoife Bole — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:25:11 GMT

I've discovered that here in Ireland the Irish Vet Council doesn't even recognise acupuncture as a valid therapy so therefore doesn't regulate it - craziness!! So any vet can start sticking needles into patients & call it acupuncture......

Re: Acupuncture Courses

Sal the 1st — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:36:30 GMT

yes I was advised the same - cannot diagnose so therefore can only place a needle under direct supervision even when trained. But you dont need any formal qualifications at all to place a needle anywhere in a human! The animals in this case are better protected than we are

Re: Acupuncture Courses

Nicola Smith — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:30:48 GMT

I thought the basis was that we can't diagnose so can't choose where to put the needles but could put needles in under supervision ie if vet telling you where to put them. I think the abva do some nurse courses - why not contact them regarding legislation.

Re: Acupuncture Courses

Aoife Bole — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:50:06 GMT

So basically we can assist but can never actually perform acupuncture? I thought from reading RCVS nurse regulations that we could perform it under direct supervision of a vet. Perhaps i got my wires crossed!!

I'm doing a college report on acupuncture for my portfolio and decided to look into the potential development for VN's in acupuncture - can you recommend any good websites/journals etc for info on this from a nursing perspective?

Thanks

Re: Acupuncture Courses

StephSVN — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:02:38 GMT

VNs are not allowed to do acupuncture in this country, only vets currently registered with the RCVS (ie can't do acupuncture if qualified vet but no longer practicing)- according to the Veterinary Surgeon's exemptions order 1962

(sorry, I have done LOTS of research into acupuncture for my degree and my tutor drilled this legislation into us, practically every sentence she would refer to it!)