Heilpraktiker - No control
Natural practitioners can work relatively freely: they are only slightly controlled and regulated. Natalie Grams and Christian Nobmann discuss exactly where the weak points are.
There are about 46,000 naturopaths in Germany. They use very different methods: homeopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy or so-called draining methods. However, there are no uniform standards for this.
No uniform training
There are naturopath schools, but you don't have to attend them. And the training there is not monitored by the state either. This means: in order to be able to work as a non-medical practitioner, you do not have to have completed any training in advance. You only have to pass a state exam. This often consists of multiple-choice questions and lasts no longer than two or three hours. If you pass the exam, you can practice. There are no other educational requirements.
In addition, the procedures carried out in the practices are hardly checked. Alternative practitioners are allowed to do everything that is not explicitly forbidden. In contrast to medicine, they do not have to prove that their methods actually have a benefit. If there are years of test phases for conventional medical procedures and medicines, the alternative practitioners have a relatively free hand.
What if something happens?
In the best case, the methods don't help, but they don't cause any damage either. But what if? For example, because necessary medical treatment is being delayed as a result? Or a treatment is carried out incorrectly and this causes considerable damage?
The doctor Natalie Grams and the medical lawyer Christian Nobmann talk about the problems with the medicine. They also talk about the origin of the Naturopathic Law and today's legal regulations.
