I read this letter last week-end and have reread several times since. If we
allow the current bill: HR3200 to pass, I fear that the words on this page
will become the reality of the way medicine is practiced in the United
States. In order to maintain any freedom of choice in health care, every
person must take the time NOW to let your voice be heard.  Contact your
Senators and Congressman Now!  Contact every person in every support group
and have their voices heard. It is no longer about any particular ailment,
condition, or syndrome. It is about what choice you will have. Let your
doctors know. Sign Petitions. Spread the word NOW!

Thank you Dr. Gonzalez for taking the time to do the research and to report
it. Thank you Townsend Letter for publishing this important letter.  Now it
is up to all of us to take action.

See letter below from Dr.Gonzalz

Possible Threat to Alternative/Nutritional Practitioners

Nicholas Gonzalez

Dear friends:

In recent weeks, I have been quite concerned about possible implications of
H3200, the House health care bill as supported by President Obama,
specifically in terms of its potential effect on the availability of
alternative medicine approaches such as ours.  As I have researched the
issue, the threats seems ominous, real, and virtually unappreciated even
within the alternative medicine community.

Recently, the Liberty Counsel in Washington, a non-profit legal defense
fund, read and reviewed the entire House of Representatives Obama health
care legislation, currently known as HR3200.  You can access the 10 page
summary of the legislation—the best summary I’ve seen is from the Liberty
Counsel website, Just Google Liberty Counsel.

While the bill as it now stands contains many potential dangers to health
care in general, according to the Liberty Counsel summary and my several
conversations with their superb and concerned staff, it appears that a cabal
in Washington will determine what type of medicine will be allowed, with
criminal penalties for all those practicing forms of medicine not approved
by this group of unelected bureaucrats.

It is not clear whether any physician or other type of practitioner could
opt out of the system.  For example, at present, a physician can opt out of
Medicare, as I have, and therefore avoid the onerous penalties for
practicing outside the conventional Medicare rules.  In terms of Obamacare,
the legislation apparently dictates that no physician can opt out and
consequently would be required to practice according to the requirements of
an unelected group of Washington experts.  And each physician’s practice
will be monitored, to insure compliance with the Washington edicts about
medical practice. Should such a situation come to pass, a therapy such as
mine will quickly cease to exist.

At my request, the Liberty Counsel reviewed the legislation specifically to
determine what impact the bill might have on practitioners such as myself
who do not practice conventional medicine.  Unfortunately, our conversations
were not very reassuring. As a start, the bill has been deliberately written
to be unclear, apparently to allow broad sweeping interpretations and
unchallenged power grabs in Washington should it pass.  Despite careful
study by the Liberty Counsel experts, it’s impossible to state whether any
physician can opt out of the system at any time or under any circumstance,
and continue to practice as he or she wishes (even if willing to forgo
government payments for care).

The Liberty Counsel people did warn me, however, that it does appear, the
way the bill is worded, all physicians would – most likely – be forced to
practice within the structure of the new government program without
exception.  And once in the system, a physician would be forced to practice
according to the standards created by a group in Washington (whom I doubt
will have any sympathy toward alternative medicine).  Physicians not
practicing according to these predetermined “standard of care” regulations
would be subjected to severe criminal penalties.  We are, in essence,
witnessing something I thought I would never see in America, the
criminalization of legitimate medical practice.

A Washington consultant and good friend, Beth Clay, has at my request also
reviewed the legislation, and discussed these important issues with the
staffs of Senator Grassley and Congressman Dan Burton who are very
knowledgeable about these issues (Congressman Burton has long been a strong
supporter of my research efforts).  Unfortunately, their assessments also do
not reassure. I have been told that it might be theoretically possible for a
physician to opt out of the system, but that any physician who chooses that
path will be subjected to onerous financial penalties and fines that make
independent practice impossible—essentially to force him or her back into
the system.

If this threat proves real, many (if not all) qualified alternative
physicians would have no choice but to shut down their practices, or face
threat of criminal prosecution. In my case, the day the bill becomes law in
its present form, I very well might have to stop my practice and see
hundreds of my patients die.  It’s potentially that serious!!

Whatever your politics may be, this House bill, and the other health care
bills sprouting up like spring weeds, not only represent a threat to our
liberty in general (big government historically never translates into
greater freedom for anyone other than bureaucrats) but represent a major
threat to alternative medicine and the future of my specific treatment. I
suggest that everyone with an interest in keeping this therapy available
immediately contact your Senators and Representatives, by phone or by
e-mail, expressing your concern about possible threats to freedom of choice
in health care in HR 3200.

Even if you don’t know who your Senators and Representatives are, you can
find them online simply by Googling US Senate and US House of
Representatives.  These official sites will direct you to the home page and
contact information of your particular Senators and Representatives based on
your Zip code as you log in.  It’s very simple.  If possible try and meet
with local Congressional and Senatorial staff directly.  Such personal
contact always has an effect.  Explain your concerns.  If your life depends
on this therapy, let them know that too.

Keep in mind that the immediate knee jerk response of Congressional staff is
to deny any problem.  But remember that no one in Washington other than the
Liberty Counsel group, and the staffs of Senator Grassley and Congressman
Burton seem actually to have read the legislation, so the staff of your
Senators and Congressman may dismiss your concerns out of ignorance and
disbelief.  But make your concerns known, argue that the bill shouldn’t be
passed, insist the bill if it is to be passed include provisions protecting
the right of physicians who practice non-traditional medicine to opt out of
the system, make them aware that you want unconventional medicine to be
available, unrestricted by government criminal penalties, and that you want
your freedom of choice in health care guaranteed forever.

Public outcries about the legislation, to the angry dismay of its
proponents, are already having an impact.  But we must do more—YOU must
act, and you must act now.

I will keep you posted.  My contacts in Washington are mobilizing.

Thank you.

Nicholas Gonzalez, M.D.