The butt-kicking time has come. What am I referring to? It is time to repeal a bad law. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND–formally known as the American Dietetics Association) claims it is the “…world’s largest organization of food and nutritional professionals.” The AND (wrongly) believes that only its members–primarily Registered Dieticians–should be legally allowed to provide nutritional advice. In many states, including Michigan, they have succeeded in passing draconian laws–the Dietetics monopoly law– that prohibits anyone from providing nutritional advice unless they are Registered Dieticians (RD’s).
It is hard to understand how this law was passed. It is not like the RD’s are well trained in nutrition. In fact, the AND should stop the push to pass more laws and spend more time educating their members about nutrition. Maybe we should pass a law mandating more nutritional education for RD’s. In my experience, most of them need it.
Before the nasty emails start, let me say I know many smart RD’s who are very knowledgeable about nutrition. Every one of these intelligent professionals has told me that they learned the vast majority of their nutritional knowledge after they received their RD degree. I can understand that as I learned little nutritional knowledge in medical school. The vast majority of my nutritional training came after medical school. In fact, let’s pass a law that mandates that all medical schools must teach about nutrition!
Let’s get back to the topic of this post.
I wrote about the nonsense of the dietetics law in past blogs. You can access the latest article here: http://112.196.20.91/drbrownstein/lets-finally-finish-off-the-academy-of-dietetics-nonsense-law/.
In the Michigan Legislature, there has been a push to repeal this idiotic law. In the Michigan House, HB 4688 is being heard on Tuesday 10.15.13. The Michigan Senate bill, SB579 may be heard on 10.17.13. A yes vote on both of these bills will repeal the Dietetics monopoly law.
The committee members of both the Michigan House and Senate need to hear from you. I am planning to attend the Senate hearing next Thursday. I am asking each and every one of you to call these committee members and encourage them to follow through and repeal the Dietetics monopoly law.
How can you help? Call Senator Tony Rocca’s office and encourage him to hold the hearing on SB579 as well as vote yes on the bill. You can call him at: 517.373.7315.
Call Representative Ed McBroom and encourage him to hold the hearing on HB 4688 and vote yes on the bill. You can contact him at: 517.373.0156.
With a little elbow grease, we can kick this lousy law away. More information about this can be found at the Michigan Nutrition Association. You can access their website here: http://www.michigannutritionassociation.org/?utm_source=10%2F%2F11+Action+Alert&utm_campaign=10-11-13+Hearing+Alert&utm_medium=email
DrB
Many years ago, when the ADA was trying to make the dietitians the the ultimate legal source for nutritional information, they came after me for practicing “dietitionary”(never sure that was an actual word) . I worked in a preventive medical office headed by several medical physicians. Even though they over saw my work and I was a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, they decided to make an example of me.
They lost in court and several states watching this decided not to pass their law. Later they won on appeal only because the “powers that be” were able to have sway over the decision. At least that was what I was told.
There are some very good dietitians but these do not practice as they were taught.
I am not surprised this effort has come up again. The pharmaceutical industry is losing ground as people look for alternatives to drugs. Many have even bought out nutriceutical companies. Now they want to control the use of nutriceuticals by controlling those who will be the only ones to use supplements, the dietitians.
God help us.
Registered Dietitians are the folks who give you Jell-o in the hospital. I’m a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified by the Nutritional Therapy Association, and I wouldn’t serve that stuff to even a healthy person! Gelatin, in the form of bone broths from real animals, is very healing to the gut, but that stuff, full of chemicals? That shouldn’t qualify as food!
Doesn’t this blog nail things on the head. . . Considering that these government suits, most with no actual medical background are dictating to those who do? Then, if these “RD’s” are doing such a bang up job of teaching nutrition, then “why” exactly are there so many nutrition/health related problems?
Thank you so much for this very important information Dr. Brownstein. I just place calls to both Rep. McBroom and Sen. Tony Rocca about this matter.
Action will be taken by me as well, although I do not live in Michigan. Thanks for another great article and alert. I am a long time fan of your blog! Dietitians need to compete on fair grounds. Teaching people to eat healthy should not be against the law. No holistic nutritionist I know would attempt to overstep their knowledge base, and try to “treat disease”, and they definitely refer out to holistic physicians and Naturopathic licensed physicians when necessary.
My mom was recovering at a nursing home. Her kidneys began to fail. Her blood sodium was low. The dietitian recommended pop to bring her sodium level up. I said that sugar is not good for her kidneys. She did not agree. Ugh!
Cindy,
That is why we need to get rid of the law. The AND repeats the silly line of lowered salt for all even though there are no good studies which prove that lowering salt is a good thing–for the vast majority of us. Let’s see, her blood sodium was low, what could raise sodium? I don’t think that question is too hard to answer.
DrB
Hi Dr. B., I called Rep. McBroom and left him a message per your instructions. I also tried calling Sen Rocca’s number and it sure sounds like a fax number. Maybe your staff can double check it as I was not able to leave a message with him. This law is totally nuts. See you at my next appointment in Early December. I hope you, your wife and the girls are doing well. Take care. -Marty Romberger
Hi Marty,
You are right. Here is the right phone number (now corrected in blog): 517.373.7315.
DrB
Thank you so much Dr Browenstein for posting this. As a board member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP.org), and a holistic nutritionist practicing in Wisconsin, I’m deeply concerned about these ‘dietitians licensing laws’. Not only do they take away the livelihoods of thousands of well-trained professionals, but they deprive the consumers of the right to choose a holistic nutrition counselor.
I’m very grateful to anyone who spreads the word about how absolutely inane and just plain wrong it is to claim a monopoly on the right to give nutritional advise and counsel.
Thank you for this information, Dr. Brownstein. Just made the calls.
One important correction: Senator Tony Rocca’s number is incorrect as listed above. That is a fax number. To call Mr. Rocca dial 517-373-7315.
Larry
Can I do this even if I don’t live in Michigan? I live in CA.
Elizabeth,
I would say call away. It won’t hurt!
DrB