Supreme Court Decision Deals Blow to Monopolistic State Medical Boards

Bad news for trade-restraining state medical boards, good news for consumers in teeth-whitening case.
On February 25, the US Supreme Court ruled that North Carolina’s dental board violated antitrust laws by shutting down hair salons and day spas that offered teeth whitening services. According to the Wall Street Journal, “The decision preserves the power of antitrust enforcers to scrutinize professional licensing organizations, even if they are designated as state-government entities.”
The dental board had claimed they were exempt from antitrust law because they were a government body, but the court found that the board was acting without proper state supervision. Writing for the court, Justice Kennedy stated that antitrust law “does not authorize the states to abandon markets to the unsupervised control of active market participants, whether trade associations or hybrid agencies.”
You can see our earlier coverage of this case for more background.
This ruling is a clear message of caution to all state medical boards that use their power to protect their monopoly on the practice of medicine, typically to the detriment of CAM doctors.
Take, for instance, the state of Washington’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC), a state board infamous for its malicious treatment of integrative physicians.
We have recounted MQAC’s ongoing attacks against integrative medical practitioner Dr. Jonathan Wright. In the most recent case, Dr. Wright’s Tahoma Clinic had hired a medical doctor who had been licensed in another state, under the condition that he apply for a Washington medical license. He did so, and the doctor’s Washington license was listed as “pending” on MQAC’s website. During this period, Dr. Wright followed the legal advice he had received and monitored him closely as required by Washington law.
Suddenly, MQAC charged Dr. Wright with “aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine” because the doctor’s out-of-state license had been revoked! To add insult to injury, it soon became known that at least four MQAC staff members knew from the beginning that the doctor’s out-of-state license had been revoked and that he could therefore not be licensed in Washington, but they never put that information on the MQAC website or made any effort to inform Dr. Wright. It seems apparent that the intent was to entrap Dr. Wright by denying him any information.
Sadly, this is just one example among many of MQAC harassing integrative doctors. Examples abound where infractions by conventional doctors are overlooked entirely or given a slap on the wrist by MQAC and other state medical boards. When integrative doctors engage in similar behavior, however, MQAC throws the book at them.
This Supreme Court ruling offers hope to consumers, practitioners of integrative medicine, and all who oppose monopolies in healthcare—monopolies that usually have nothing to do with protecting public health and everything to do with protecting turf. That is why various nurses’ groups opposed the NC medical board.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) has also been at this game for a while in its efforts to pass “scope-of-practice” laws whereby only Registered Dieticians (RDs) can offer nutrition services. This, of course, explicitly excludes other nutrition professionals, who are often better educated, more experienced, and better qualified than RDs.
We can only hope that this Supreme Court decision serves as a precedent— not only for monopolistic state medical boards across the country, but for state nutrition/dietetics boards as well. The recent victory of Steve Cooksey in North Carolina offers another glimmer of hope that governmental and legal bodies are starting to crack down on medical and nutritional monopolies, and we at ANH-USA applaud these actions.

1 comment

  1. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The USA founding fathers knew this. They warned of the dangers of centralizing power. They setup the best checks on government power they could at the time. It was supposed to keep government from wronging the people they’re supposed to serve. So, did it work? Is this government’s power held in check? Or does it continually wrong its own People? Has “abuse of power” and “wrong doing” by government gotten out of control? LOL!
    The problem with governmental abuse of power is that it always serves its Own INTEREST or SPECIAL INTEREST. And always to the detriment of the People’s and YOUR best interest. Governmental wrong doing will always be the inevitable result of unchecked power!
    Most government atrocities throughout history would never have gotten off the ground had there been at the time a mechanism for the People to Check and Balance government through Direct Participation in government!
    Abuse of power and wrong doing by government can and will be overturned and held in Check by the People when the political mechanism that puts them back into Direct Control of government is adopted.
    What political mechanism could put the control of government back into the hands of the People? There’s a political movement with said mechanism at its core. The core principle is that of true Checks and Balances on government power. – A “People’s Branch” of government allows the People to exercise DIRECT oversight of government. The People literally govern the government! Ultimately Checking and Balancing government power will bring those responsible for governmental power abuse and wrongs to justice!
    Here is actionable info that may help if read carefully…
    Who and what political movement reintroduced, into the public awareness, the concept of increasing Checks and Balances as a solution for controlling government wrong doing? They didn’t – We did! – www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org.
    There is a way to make government truly transparent and accountable: www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org
    There is a way to make government directly responsible to the people: www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org
    The People do not have to let the government work against them/the People! A People’s Branch will see that abuse of power and authority is punished: www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org
    Think for yourself! Think of what a People’s Branch could mean for You and/or Your loved ones’ finances, health, rights, freedoms, security and justice etc. Find out why a People’s Branch would be good for You and Your loved ones! Find out why a People’s Branch will result in a better future for Your children! You don’t have to take our word for it. A Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious Person would find out if it truly had a chance to help them. They would talk to family and friends and find out how they feel about a People’s Branch and why?
    Reasonable, Responsible, and Conscientious People need to know that they should act NOW before things get worse and their numbers fall too low…
    Yet, realize that taking back control of government may not be easy. Always remember that the Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious People are opposed in this epic struggle for Direct Participation in their government by SPECIAL INTEREST and those that serve them. – Namely their henchman – the GATEKEEPERS.
    Amazingly, these GATEKEEPERS are most often our own – leaders, organizations, political parties, politicians, elected officials, bureaucrats, public servants, print and broadcast news organizations, the media, radio/TV talk show hosts, authors, advocates, pundits, alliances, federations, websites and so called political action sites etc.
    They’re constantly among us – even out front. Don’t You get it? – To do their job for their masters, i.e. SPECIAL INTEREST, they must have positions as GATEKEEPERS. SPECIAL INTEREST knows that keeping the People as a whole under control requires a system of GATEKEEPERS. Whether or not the GATEKEEPERS are unwitting dupes or dumbed down or just compartmentalized cronies, most end up serving SPECIAL INTEREST over those they are supposed to serve i.e. Your and the People’s best interest!
    Checks and Balances!
    Who and what political movement reintroduced, into the public awareness, the concept of increasing Checks and Balances as a solution for controlling government wrong doing? They didn’t – We did! – www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org.
    Many GATEKEEPERS use the words Checks and Balances every day. Yet, why don’t they want You to know about the ultimate mechanism for implementing them. www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org.
    You may wonder if they even know about us. Yes, they know about us but refuse to acknowledge our efforts. They have even started to manipulate our words and blocking our message that the Ultimate Checks and Balances on government can and will come from the People’s Direct Participation in government. They don’t want this political movement challenging their power. Why do you think GATEKEEPERS give every political genre of any political persuasion a venue and forum? Yet, no GATEKEEPER will even openly take up discussing the remote possibility of a People’s Branch of government? WHY?
    Isn’t it because they know that anything other than the People Participating Directly in government offers little or no real resistance to the corruption of the power structure? They realize that the People Participating Directly in government, a People’s Branch, changes everything! They know that, with a People’s Branch, the People will no longer allow government to serve SPECIAL INTEREST over the best interest of the People – YOUR best interest!
    Yet, the system is designed to allow the People a reactive mode only. The People are only offered pretend paths for changing government’s wrong doings (i.e. voting to elect officeholders, organizing, campaigning (for so-called good people), running for office (by so-called good people), public protests, marches, demonstrations, rallies, sit-ins, calling and/or writing your elected officials etc.) At best the pretend methods only slow government wrong doing temporarily. GATEKEEPERS are paid to direct the People/You into these pretend paths which will only burn out good and well-meaning People by burning up and wasting their time, energy, money and/or resources with little or no positive and/or lasting results. They’re paid by their masters, the real power behind government i.e. SPECIAL INTEREST, to keep the People/You from waking up to these truths…
    If the People/You don’t wake up then they will continue by default to control the closed system. They know that they win and You lose as long as they can direct You into the pretend paths that are designed to keep out any DIRECT Checks and Balances from the outside – We the People! Think about it! Why should it have taken women sixty years to get the right to vote? Why should it have taken so many years for blacks to get the right to vote?
    Isn’t it obvious, GATEKEEPERS push their pretend methods for improving and/or stopping government wrong doing because their pretend methods are designed to fail You and keep SPECIAL INTEREST in control? It’s the job of GATEKEEPERS to push their pretend methods because they are proven to keep the power in the hands of SPECIAL INTEREST. Yet, while the People are directed down their pretend paths to change and improvement, SPECIAL INTEREST continues their own direct access and participation with Your elected officials for the purpose of seeing to it that THEIR best interest gets served!
    Don’t you realize that if a People’s Branch of government had existed in the past then the People would have made sure that most of the bad things of those times would’ve been avoided? Yet, it’s still not too late. We must now focus on the present and prepare for the future. Remember, if you want things to be better for Yourself and Your loved ones, now and in the future, then You’ll join us. Together we’ll Check and Balance government and make sure that government serves the People’s and YOUR best interest!
    In the meantime most GATEKEEPERS will continue to push their PSYOP of getting You to believe that their pretend methods are new and they’ll work for You this time? It’s a sophisticated PSYOP. We know their PSYOP has worked in the past – maybe even on You. Many have fallen for it. Many still believe that these same old approaches will work for them. Yet, their pretend methods for improvement are not new and they’ll never work to insure that government serves YOUR best interest.
    REMEMBER, most GATEKEEPERS aren’t willing to help you see that the best and only long term solution is to cut through the political red tape and defeat the political trap masters at their own game! Isn’t it obvious why they act so much like Controlled Opposition? They are Controlled Opposition! If you study what many of these people actually say and how they say it, instead of only agreeing with what you think they are saying, then you too may see how controlled opposition really works. Yes they talk a good game. But they continue to direct your attention away from the obvious solution – YOU! You are the real solution! Once you make up your mind to have a Direct Participation in government on the things that affect You and Your loved ones then You’ll join us!
    Remember, most GATEKEEPERS continuously choose to serve their followers with only talk and do nothing of consequence for them. Most GATEKEEPERS mission is to program you to also only talk and do nothing of consequence for yourself! Talk is cheap. Their rhetoric is ultimately Controlled Opposition simply because they never engage a viable long term solution. Yet, we do and we have! Here: www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org
    So, the question is – WILL IT WORK ON YOU NOW? Now that You can see their game and You see a real viable solution for Yourself and Your loved ones – a People’s Branch! Only YOUR Direct Participation in government can insure that YOUR best interest is served! Can’t you see this?
    It is paramount that You Participate Directly in government where You can pass or fail Your elected officials vote on matters that affect You.
    Isn’t it foolish to let others, especially GATEKEEPERS – politicians, elected officials, public servants, bureaucrats and media mouthpieces, etc., continuously undermine Your best interest? Wouldn’t it be prudent to have a Direct say in the things that affect You and Your loved ones? Many Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious people are now coming to realize that they need a mechanism whereby they can Participate Directly in government in order to help safeguard their own best interest!
    What could this mechanism be?
    The answer is a People’s Branch of government!
    The process to get a People’s Branch of government starts with the petition!
    Why a Petition? Because it’s time tested and a Constitution guaranteed method whereby People/Citizens can take action and change the governing and political process! People are now beginning to see how the Petition can be used to help protect their rights and freedoms. Therefore, none should forget or forgive any GATEKEEPERS that make fun of or demonize the Petition and its power and strength for good in the hands of good people!
    We advocate only patronizing the good GATEKEEPERS. i.e. ONLY The ones that are working to help you safeguard You and Your loved ones own best interest. Only they are truly worthy of Your attention, admiration, alliance, loyalty, and support! To find out if the ones You follow are truly worthy simply ask them – if they are interested in promoting the best way (Citizens Participating Directly in government as an incorruptible Checks and Balances!) for everyone to help safeguard their own best interest!
    If the GATEKEEPERS You follow genuinely care about the People’s/Your rights and freedoms then they will show that they have faith in the judgment of People as a whole! Many GATEKEEPERS demean the People for trying to exercise their best judgment when they’re forced into having to choose between two evils! Is that really fair when they demean the public and say it’s the public’s fault for electing a corrupt politician! Yet, it’s never really the People’s fault when some slick politician fools their constituents and gets elected – then double-crosses them! Wouldn’t the answer be to institute a foolproof mechanism to Check and Balance the double-crossers? A People’s Branch of government!
    The GATEKEEPERS that genuinely care about their follower’s best interest will have no problem in helping to get the word out about this powerful solution i.e. our Petition for a People’s Branch of government! With our petition we create a way to set-up a mechanism for corruption-proof Checks and Balances on government. If you’re not hearing about this movement from the GATEKEEPER you’re following then you’ll know they’re probably a Controlled Opposition GATEKEEPER SHILL.
    An ACTIONABLE Long Term SOLUTION for most of our problems exists HERE: www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org
    People are coming to understand that not unlike the original need for a Constitution and Bill of Rights, the true strength of a People’s Branch of government is that it will help them protect themselves from the tyranny of government and SPECIAL INTEREST. They are coming to realize that their own best interest and the best interest of the vast majority of the people are one and the same.
    Divide and conquer has long been used by SPECIAL INTEREST to fool the People into believing it’s only their peers – others like themselves that are their real enemy. They don’t want YOU to know it’s really them, SPECIAL INTEREST, that’s YOUR real problem – literally. They do this simply by keeping the People’s/Your attention focused on what they say is the problem and its solution.
    Ever heard of Problem, Reaction, Solution? Don’t you get it? Look at what others say – here and/or elsewhere… Can’t you see it? Most have their attention subverted! Look at what they’re focusing on! Some, many or all may simply be some form of Troll or dis-information pusher. Even if some are wellmeaning they mostly affect You into diverting Your attention away from the systems control methods. Many do these things in hopes of stopping the People/You from seeing the Real Actionable Solution of a People’s Branch!
    Yet, people are coming to realize that SPECIAL INTEREST and their GATEKEEPERS are benefiting from Their Own Form of Direct Participation (i.e. influence/manipulation) in government at the expense and detriment of the People’s/Your Own Best Interest. Therefore, until the People/You wake up and adopt this, People’s Branch of government, mechanism for Direct Participation in government, then the People’s/Your own best interest will only continue to suffer.
    Yet, it is exactly because SPECIAL INTEREST will always continue to trample the People’s best interest that from time to time Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious people have to resort to revolution – violent or otherwise!
    ABOVE EVERYTHING THE PROPAGANDISTS THROW AT YOU – REMEMBER THIS: A People’s Branch of government can and will Stop/Reform/Amend/Reverse and Heal the power structure and justice system. A People’s Branch will see that those responsible for governmental wrongs are justly punished!
    Wake up or die asleep it’s up to you! Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious people are choosing to wake up! You too can Wake-Up to the only non-violent way to take your government away from SPECIAL INTEREST.
    Only when citizens have a direct participation in their government concerning matters that affect them will their and their loved ones’ issues (Freedoms, Rights, Security, Financial, Health, Political and Justice etc.) have a true chance to be properly addressed!
    Your Direct Participation in government on matters that concern You and Your loved ones is paramount!
    A People’s Branch creates the best way to Check and Balance government! If SPECIAL INTEREST continues to get their way then You and Your Loved Ones may lose everything! Why not help us help you?!
    Every Reasonable, Responsible and Conscientious person should be asking themselves WHY DO LEADERS OF BOTH MAJOR PARTIES HATE THE IDEA OF A PEOPLES BRANCH?
    Those that truly seek fair and equitable solutions can find them at The People’s Branch. Implementing a People’s Branch in your local area is the key you have been waiting for….
    Ultimately a People’s Branch of government will hold accountable those behind government’s multifaceted injustices and wrong doings – namely, the governmental authorities doing SPECIAL INTEREST bidding!
    Additionally, governmental persons acting against the best interest of the People should be forewarned that, at a future date, their actions may be deemed unlawful and therefore punishable. They should be aware that their actions or lack thereof that result in the creation of wrongs, such as so called “trade agreements,” that ultimately harm the People’s best interest may at some point be adjudicated to be harmful and therefore unlawful. Further, it would be wise of the wrong doers to realize that they, the perpetrators of governmental wrongs, may be held responsible and accountable for those wrongs as easily as a simple declaration or adjudication! Said wrongs may have dire consequences for those found to have helped implement or aided their authorization, through their actions or lack thereof. Those individuals may be found guilty of sedition and/or treason and tried for treason to the United States of America. Any and all elected officials and officeholders would do well to remember that there’s no statutes of limitation for the crime of treason!
    Many governmental wrongs such as “Fast Tracking, NAFTA, TPP, Shielding GMOs and/or their harm from discovery etc.,” and others may yet result in charges and convictions of treason for those responsible and accountable for their implementation. Charges and convictions for treason may be possible if it’s found that government officials failed to represent the best interest of the People and their actions subsequently turn out to undermine national security. It should be understood that any governmental officials, especially current or ex-presidents and current or ex-congressional officeholders, may be open to charges of treason should their actions and/or lack of actions be deemed to have ECONOMICALLY undermined national security. Everyone would do well to remember that the final judgment rendered by the People concerning many governmental wrongs has yet to be written!
    ANNOUNCEMENT: OPEN CHALLENGE TO ANY AND ALL GATEKEEPERS – WE CHALLENGE YOU TO DEBATE THE MERITS OF A PEOPLE’S BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT WITH US – THE MEMBER(S) OF THIS POLITICAL MOVEMENT – THE PEOPLE’S BRANCH. (YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US – www(dot)ThePeoplesBranch(dot)org)….
    Did you hear that? GATEKEEPERS – What’s your response? Why do GATEKEEPERS always refuse open debate with this political movement? Why would any GATEKEEPER have a problem bringing this political movement to their followers and the masses? What part of the people’s ability to participate directly in their government thereby creating an incorruptible Checks and Balances upon governmental wrongs – atrocities and corruption – DON’T YOU GET?…
    GATEKEEPERS can’t name one issue or one problem that a People’s Branch would make worse! Yet, we can name any number of issues and problems that a People’s Branch will make better, improve and/or solve for WE THE PEOPLE!
    Why not advocate for a People’s Branch of government and let all the GATEKEEPERS you follow know that you want them to openly debate the merits of a People’s Branch to Check and Balance government?
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