Heilpraktiker

{{title-italics}}{{altmed}}
'''''Heilpraktiker''''' ("healing practitioner(s)") is a [[Naturopathy|naturopathic]] state-approved and state-regulated profession in German-speaking countries. In its ideal form, it's a "lite" version of physicians, diagnosing and treating ailments, but while the profession is more regulated than naturopathic professions in other countries,{{cn}} ''Heilpraktiker'' tend to specialise on [[CAM]] treatments.

==Germany==
In January 2006, the magazine ''Ökotest'' tested 20 ''Heilpraktiker''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061008013622/http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/ot/otgs.cgi?suchtext=&doc=38457&pos=1&splits=0:1628:3101:4586 ''Ökotest'' 2006 Test: '''Heilpraktiker''']</ref> With "very good" as the best result, 4 were "good", 5 would be warned against. The remaining filled out the range in between, with all kinds of misdiagnosis and useless treatments. In 2008, ''Stiftung Warentest'''s most important magazine ''Test'' tested 40 ''Heilpraktiker'' and concentrated on [[homeopathy]] and [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171005085150/https://www.test.de/Heilpraktiker-Gesamteindruck-positiv-1652630-1652645/ ''Test'' 28.02.2008 '''Heilpraktiker''']</ref> The service was rated positively, medical competency was rated as fragmentary. When it came to standards for classical homeopathy and TCM, the ratings were higher.

In August 2017, an interdisciplinary group of experts, ''Münsteraner Kreis'', wrote ''Münsteraner Memorandum Heilpraktiker''.<ref>[http://www.muensteraner-kreis.de/media/MuensteranerMemorandumHeilpraktiker.pdf Münsteraner Kreis: Münsteraner Memorandum Heilpraktiker. 2017-08-21.]</ref> This publication notes a gap of standard of quality in the medical sector when comparing the [[CAM]]-riddled ''Heilpraktiker'' and regular medical care. In its conclusion, it calls for either dissolving the profession or for a radical reform on the basis of competency. This caused various reactions in media<ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/gesundheit/alternative-medizin-in-der-kritik-heilpraktiker-ein-unzulaessiger-beruf-1.3639303?reduced=true ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'': Heilpraktiker: Ein unzulässiger Beruf?]</ref><ref>[https://motherboard.vice.com/de/article/paa3v7/gegen-den-irrsinn-wissenschaftler-fordern-abschaffung-des-heilpraktikerberufs?utm_medium=link&utm_source=vicefbde ''Motherboard'': Gegen den "Irrsinn": Wissenschaftler fordern Abschaffung des Heilpraktikerberufs]</ref><ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/gesundheit/heilpraktiker-erst-physiotherapeut-dann-heilpraktiker-1.3634777 ''Süddeutsche'': Erst Physiotherapeut, dann Heilpraktiker]</ref><ref>[http://www.ardmediathek.de/radio/Campus-Karriere-komplette-Sendung-/Campus-und-Karriere-22-8-komplette-Sen/Deutschlandfunk/Audio-Podcast?bcastId=21553860&documentId=45365034 ''Deutschlandfunk'': "Unhaltbare Krankheitskonzepte" Eine Expertenkommission empfiehlt eine grundlegende Reform des Heilpraktikerberufs, die Ausbildung sei unangemessen, die Krankheitskonzepte unhaltbar. Interview mit der Vorsitzenden der Kommission, Prof. Bettina Schöne-Seifert]</ref><ref>[https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/index.php?id=71114 ''Pharmazeutische Zeitung'': Medizin-Experten wollen Heilpraktikerberuf abschaffen]</ref><ref>[http://www.rp-online.de/leben/gesundheit/medizin/medizin-experten-fordern-reform-von-heilpraktiker-gesetz-aid-1.7026625 ''RP Online'': Medizin-Experten fordern Reform von Heilpraktiker-Gesetz]</ref><ref>[https://hpd.de/artikel/wenn-reinkarnationstherapeut-gegen-aufklaerung-wettert-14724 ''Humanischer Pressedienst'': Wenn der "Reinkarnationstherapeut" gegen Aufklärung wettert]</ref>, in journals and from the medical community<ref>[http://www.ebm-netzwerk.de/pdf/stellungnahmen/sn-memorandum-heilpraktiker.pdf ''Deutsches Netzwerk Evidenzbasierte Medizin'': Stellungnahme zum Münsteraner Memorandum Heilpraktiker], 24.10.2017</ref><ref>[https://www.aerztezeitung.de/medizin/fachbereiche/sonstige_fachbereiche/alternativmedizin/article/941400/wissenschaftler-fordern-weg-heilpraktikerberuf.html ''ÄrzteZeitung'': Weg mit dem Heilpraktikerberuf!]</ref><ref>[https://www.aerztezeitung.de/praxis_wirtschaft/igel/article/941420/alternativmedizin-ruf-nach-konsequentem-patientenschutz.html ''ÄrzteZeitung'': Ruf nach konsequentem Patientenschutz]</ref><ref>[http://www.aekwl.de/index.php?id=123&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1233&cHash=7703284540395ab2bb6e5fae3ace77bf ''Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe'': Windhorst kritisiert Heilpraktiker: „Können Gefahr für die Patientenversorgung sein - Keine Leitlinien und keine wissenschaftliche Standards: Kammer will Berufseinschränkung und Regulierung]</ref><ref>[https://www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de/news/artikel/2017/08/21/experten-wollen-heilpraktikerberuf-abschaffen-oder-reformieren ''Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung'': Experten fordern Abschaffung oder Reform des Heilpraktikerberufs]</ref> and — of course — from Heilpraktiker associations.<ref>[https://www.bdh-online.de/bdh-weist-kritik-an-heilpraktiker-beruf-in-deutschland-zurueck-2/ ''Bund Deutscher Heilpraktiker e.V.'': BDH weist Kritik an Heilpraktiker-Beruf in Deutschland zurück]</ref><ref>[http://www.dw.com/de/heilpraktiker-das-m%C3%BCnsteraner-memorandum-wimmelt-von-fehlern/a-40190176 ''Deutsche Welle:'' Heilpraktiker: "Das Münsteraner Memorandum wimmelt von Fehlern"]</ref><ref>[https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/index.php?id=71146 ''Pharmazeutische Zeitung'': Heilpraktiker weisen «undifferenzierte Generalkritik» zurück]</ref><ref>[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/gesundheit/heilpraktiker-erst-physiotherapeut-dann-heilpraktiker-1.3634777-2 ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'': Sollten Heilpraktiker zuerst eine Ausbildung in einem Gesundheitsberuf absolvieren?]</ref><ref>[http://scienceblogs.de/gesundheits-check/2017/08/26/heilpraktiker-psychotherapie-abschaffen-oder-aufwerten/#comment-63857 ''ScienceBlogs'': Heilpraktiker Psychotherapie – abschaffen oder aufwerten?], anchored to a comment by head of ''Deutsche Heilpraktikerschule Konstanz''</ref>

===Requirements===
If you want to become ''Heilpraktiker'': 
* You need to be 25 years old, have a minimal level of education and be generally fit to act as ''Heilpraktiker''.
*You can't work in another profession while practicing.<ref>[https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heilprgdv_1/__2.html Heilpraktikergesetz §2], German citizenship is [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/dfr/bv078179.html no longer required]</ref>
* You need to pass a written exam about anatomy, [[medicine]] and [[law]] (usually multiple choice, and you need 75%) and pass a 30-45 minutes oral exam,<ref>[http://www.schure.de/21064/405,41022,15.htm Richtlinie zur Durchführung des Verfahrens zur Erteilung einer Erlaubnis nach dem Heilpraktikergesetz]</ref> in which you need to convince two physicians, two ''Heilpraktiker'' and one person who's neither,<ref>[https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heilprgdv_1/__4.html Heilpraktikergesetz §4]</ref> that you have sufficient knowledge and you don't pose a threat to public health.

Based on the requirements you have to pass an exam at health office to practice as a 'Heilpraktiker' in Germany.<ref>[https://soziales.niedersachsen.de/download/401/Richtlinie_zur_Durchfuehrung_des_Verfahrens_zur_Erteilung_einer_Erlaubnis_nach_dem_Heilpraktikergesetz.pdf Official guideline] and further [https://www.lebensbluete.de/heilpraktiker/heilpraktikerpruefung.html Details of exam]</ref>
Furthermore, in addition to the fully authorized 'Heilpraktiker', there are also so-called sectoral 'Heilpraktiker' who are restricted in their allowed job profile.<ref>[https://www.lebensbluete.de/heilpraktiker/berufsbild.html Job profiles 'Heilpraktiker' (full & sectoral)]</ref>

Congrats, the German state now allows you to practice in a medical context, including physiotherapy and psychotherapy — as long as you know what you're doing, people can still sue you and you need to obey all of the other laws as well. Among other things, you're not allowed to prescribe drugs, function as a dentist, function as a midwife, function as a coroner, apply radiotherapy or do anything about notifiable diseases or [[STD]]s.<br>This means that you can be one of the 10% not having any training before starting as a Heilpraktiker.<ref>[http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2943e/7.6.html Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review: Europe: Germany], "10% of Heilpraktikers did not have any form of training"</ref>

Too much work? If you're OK with working on [[animals]] instead of [[humans]], just call yourself ''Tierheilpraktiker'' and start right away!<ref>[https://www.jurion.de/urteile/bgh/1999-04-22/i-zr-108_97/ Bundesgerichtshof Urt. v. 22.04.1999, Az.: I ZR 108/97 „Tierheilpraktiker“]</ref>

==Switzerland==
{{main|Switzerland}}
While nomenclature for German ''Heilpraktiker'' tries to at least pretend there's a focus on a medical standard, the Swiss version specifically has four pseudomedical branches for the profession:<ref>[https://berufsberatung.ch/dyn/show/1900?lang=de&idx=30&id=9731 Berufsbild Naturheilpraktiker/in (HFP)]</ref><ref>[http://www.bvz.admin.ch/bvz/hbb/index.html?detail=1&typ=hfp&lang=en&item=834&abfragen=Abfrage+durchf%C3%BChren Berufsverzeichnis Naturheilpraktiker/in mit eidg. Diplom]</ref> The officially recommended English translation is ''naturopathic practitioner with Advanced Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training in discipline<ref name="ordnung">[http://www.bvz.admin.ch/php/modules/bvz/file.php?file=PO_85830_d.pdf&typ=PO Prüfungsordnung über die Höhere Fachprüfung für Naturheilpraktikerin und Naturheilpraktiker]</ref>
*[[Ayurveda|Ayurveda Medicine]]
*[[Homeopathy]]
*[[TCM|Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM]]
*Traditional European Naturopathy''

===Requirements===
The Swiss version has its most significant differences in the following:<ref name="ordnung"></ref>
*2 or 3 years of experience in the profession
*a graduation in modules covering [[ethics]] and medicine, basics in medicine, the chosen branch, therapy, business studies, practical working and a mentored internship.
*The exams are evaluated by at least two experts (the candidate's teachers, relatives, business partners, current and previous superiors and coworkers).
As such, the official requirements lean more heavily on a vocational training than in Germany.

==Austria==
{{main|Austria}}
''Heilpraktiker'' is not a legal profession in Austria — in fact, training<ref>[https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10010984&Artikel=&Paragraf=1&Anlage=&Uebergangsrecht= Ausbildungsvorbehaltsgesetz §1] limits vocational training to the approved institutions, in the jurisdictions of physicians, dentists, midwives, patient care, various other medical services, psychology, psychotherapy, veterinarians, cardiology, paramedics, medical [[massage]] and medical assistants. Trying to do so is a criminal act. '''Advertising''' for such counts as trying and is a criminal act.</ref> or practicing as ''Helipraktiker'' is illegal. The only ones allowed to do medicine without supervision by a physician are (wait for it) physicians.<ref>[https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/Dokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Dokumentnummer=NOR12142640 Ärztegesetz 1998 §2] defines a physician's jurisdiction</ref><ref>[https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10011138&Artikel=&Paragraf=3&Anlage=&Uebergangsrecht= Ärztegesetz 1998 §3 (4)], §3 (3) defines the conditions for relatively unsupervised work.</ref> When contested by a market-leading<ref>[http://www.paracelsus.de/ueber-paracelsus/die-heilpraktikerschulen#toggle-id-3 Deutsche Paracelsus Schulen für Naturheilverfahren GmbH] by their own account</ref> Heilpraktiker corporation, the European Court of Justice upheld Austrian law to be compatible with [[EU]] law in this regard.<ref>[http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=47093&doclang=en Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 July 2002. Case C-294/00.] Advertising for training ''outside'' Austria is allowed if the ad mentions that the profession may not be exercised in Austria.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]

Categories: Germany, Alternative medicine