The label we already trust
PATIENT PROTECTION
Know Who is Treating You
A professional title should tell you what the practitioner has studied, how they will assess you, and what they are qualified to treat.
European law requires every packet of food to list its ingredients and allergens. We read those labels without a second thought, because they let us choose with confidence. A person with a nut allergy relies on the label as much as on the producer's good intentions.
Health care deserves the same clarity. When you walk into a treatment room, the title on the door is the only label you see. It should tell you as much about the care inside as an ingredients list tells you about the food.
What a title should guarantee
Education
A defined programme at a recognised level, with supervised clinical training.
Competencies
Demonstrated skills, including when to refer a patient to a doctor.
Scope
The services the practitioner may provide, and the limits of practice.
When all three match the title, the title tells you what kind of care you will receive. When anyone may use a title, it tells you nothing at all.
One word, very different care
Today "acupuncture" can mean very different things.
Both can be legitimate, and patients deserve to know which one they are getting.