These practitioners have gone through the training required by New York State to practice acupuncture with a license. These folks have set a precedent and are an example to all who wish to practice acupuncture in combination with another health care license. We must insist that acupuncture is a profession not a modality. The podiatric profession states that they are in a position to treat any medical problem that relates to the foot and should be allowed to perform any 'technique' that relates to treatment of the foot. Again, ASNY must state that acupuncture is not a technique.
Acupuncture is a comprehensive medical system.
To simply treat the foot with a few acupuncture needles is poor practice. An acupuncturist would most likely insert needles in 'distal' locations to support treatment of a foot complaint. This would mean needling the ankle, thigh, knee, hip, shoulder and possibly the head. It is obvious that for a podiatrist to render appropriate acupuncture treatment, the scope of practice would be expanded to move beyond the foot. ASNY is not secure that the podiatric profession's claim that it will not move it's scope of practice beyond the foot is to be trusted.