Wisconsin State Senator Kathleen Vinehout has introduced legislation known as the Dietary Licensing Bill (SB 115) that will restrict nutritional assessments and recommendations given by persons that are not registered dieticians. Although the acclaimed intent by the lobbying organizations, the American Dietary Association (ADA) and its affiliate, the Wisconsin Dietary Association (WDA), is to protect the public from harmful advice, the true impact of this bill is to limit public access to qualified practitioners. As registered dieticians ascribe to only one philosophy of nutritional care this bill would keep other scientifically-based and effective nutritional therapies from being practiced.It is obvious that the intent of the bill is to fence out qualified nutritionists that are non-ADA approved as the exemptions in the bill allow for nurses, chiropractors, dentists, acupuncturists, athletic trainers, podiatrists, and pharmacists to practice nutrition although these professionals have little to no nutritional training. There are currently 600 alternative nutrition providers who have extensive training in the science and cultural aspects of nutrition. These practicing nutritionists have nutritional training that far exceeds that of the aforementioned exempted professionals. These 600 nutritionists would be forced to close their businesses if this bill passes. Additionally, the bill will adversely impact the businesses of 1,000+ health food stores and 8,000+ food-based supplement distributors, who rely on the nutrition professionals to make specific advice regarding their supplements to individuals. The bill will limit the careers of 700+ students, many of whom are currently enrolled in state or nationally accredited nutrition programs. Professional groups, both health care and otherwise, have lobbied legislatures for decades in order to gain licensure. Particularly in the health care field, licensure is presented as a means for protecting the public. However, consumer protection laws as well as the court system are already in place to protect the public from fraud and abuse. The byproducts of many licensure laws are turf and title protection for a few professionals, with the laws used as a way to restrict competition. In a recent radio program in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a registered dietician publically testified that the WDA was pressuring their members to support the legislation and that it was indeed meant to take jobs away from those providing nutritional care that are not registered dieticians.This issue of licensure was addressed in the Wisconsin legislature in 1993 which resulted in the 1993 Wisconsin Act 443. The legislature considered whether dieticians required licensing and whether they would have exclusive access to the term nutrition. The resulting bill provided for the credentialing of dieticians. The need for licensing and control over the term nutrition were rejected by the legislature at that time. Since then, this level of regulation has proved perfectly adequate. There is no need to revisit this bill except to benefit existing dieticians.There are countless people who have been and are currently being helped by nutritionists that are not registered dieticians. Wisconsin residents should remain free to choose whom they would like to
seek for nutritional advice.
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