Integrative Medicine with Dr. Buttar

Complaints against Naturopathic physicians are nothing new. Although alternative medicine is better recognized and more accepted today than it was 20 years ago, it has not fully infiltrated the mainstream of society. Unfortunately, alternative practitioners are seen as a last resort, and when frustrated patients come to them they are often in the later stages of whatever condition they are seeking treatment for. They are generally desperate and both physically and emotionally exhausted, as are their family members and caregivers. Unlike conventional treatments, when alternative practices do not achieve the desired results, outraged clients and lawsuits often follow. There are no guarantees, and not all patients respond the same to all treatments. There have been thousands of parents that have had enormous success with alternative treatments for their children, many claiming that treatments such as chelation have cured their child's autism.

I am aware of the Board's action against Dr. Buttar, and although I am not fully aware of the details involving the case, I am aware that at the time of this article, he is still fully licensed and able to continue treating patients as before. I can empathize with the frustration of parents and loved ones who spent exorbitant amounts of money and feel it was in vain. I can also rejoice for the parents and loved ones who spent exorbitant amounts of money and watched as a dying spouse came out of remission or walked without the use of a walker for the first time in 2 years.

From what I understand, the proceedings against Dr. Buttar are not of a malpractice type, but rather of a financial type. Claims of excessive fees for unnecessary treatments and complaints of this nature. Again, I can identify with parents that have an undying hope to cure their child’s incurable condition. However, if you are seeking services form a physician in any realm of the medical field, be it alternative or conventional, there comes a time when you have to step back and ask yourself if the treatment is working. I am having a difficult time understanding why Dr. Buttar is being sued by families AFTER they received months of treatments and spent thousands and thousands of dollars and claim to have not seen any results. As the parent of a child with a developmental disability on the autism spectrum, my personal quest to treat him has led me to visit dozens of alternative health practitioners. I achieved mild results with some, found moderate success with others, and still others led me to leave the office after 1 or 2 visits and never look back. My own experience has led me to spend astronomical amounts of money on various treatments, but I can assure you that money was never spent on treatments that did not result in some form of improvement in my son’s condition. Do not misunderstand me, I am in no way blaming parents or loved ones for reaching out in a moment of desperation to do whatever they could to help their child. However, nor will I blame a doctor who believed he was doing what he could in his attempt to help that child.

The on-going debate between alternative and conventional medicine will not be coming to an end any time soon. There will always be advocates and opponents for both. Both serve their place in the medical society. Oftentimes, the patients that achieve the greatest success are those that implement a health regimen that incorporates an integrative approach by utilizing a combination of these 2 fields of medicine. While it’s true that some alternative therapies are now covered by health insurance, there is still much that is left to be desired. Alternative treatments are relevant and necessary to treat and cure disease and need to be recognized as such. Consumer demand and a growing body of evidence demonstrating its benefits have resulted in the increase in the number of insurance companies that now cover complementary and alternative medicine, however, the extent of coverage is still quite limited. Patients generally receive discounted services and still pay high out of pocket fees. As a result, treatments are misjudged as being ineffective when in reality, the problem lies within the limited coverage preventing the patient from completing the recommended treatment plan.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/x-5106-Charlotte-Alternative-Medicine-Examiner~y2009m4d1-Integrative-Medicine-with-Dr-Buttar