Fortschr Med. 1997 Feb; 115(4): 38-41.

[Healing practitioner--a German phenomenon. What are the rights and responsibilities of healing practitioners?]

Ernst E.

Dept. of Complementary Medicine, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter, UK.

The "Heilpraktiker" is a German phenomenon dating back to the Third Reich. Today, there are between seven and ten thousand practicing "Heilpraktiker" in Germany. The training, skills, responsibilities and rights of this profession do not accord with the law that aims to "avert a danger to the health of the people". In Brussels, harmonization of the area of nonmedically trained practitioners is presently under discussion. However, a speedy solution to the obvious problems is not yet in sight.