I read in the INC. column that Chicago Bear Jim McMahon may have difficulty in getting treatment for his injury from acupuncturist Hiroshi Shiriashi. O`Malley and Gratteau explained that ”In Illinois . . . it is illegal for anyone except a medical doctor or a chiropractor to wield needles.”
Modern day politicians may believe that the state knows best but government has really missed the point (pardon the pun) in this area of relationship between patient and healer. As a Bears fan, I am outraged that Illinois government could deny McMahon access to the healing treatment of his choice.
As a Libertarian, I ask that government get out of all patient-healer relationships. If I am dying of cancer, I should be able to sign a contract with my physician, requesting him to give me his best effort, his best treatment without fear of being sued by me. In this way, I increase my chances of living, the doctor`s liability insurance rates go down, the doctor`s fees go down and medical progress occurs at a faster rate for all of us.
