Written by the College of Homeopaths of Ontario
Homeopathy is a system of medicine used around the world and based on the principle of “let likes be cured by likes.” Patients who exhibit symptoms of disease are treated with administration of minute doses of substances to stimulate the individual’s natural healing process to restore and maintain health.
Homeopaths are trained health-care practitioners who observe and assess the totality of signs and symptoms that the patient exhibits. This totality refers to taking all the symptoms a patient exhibits on a physical, mental, emotional, and general level, and prescribing a remedy that best matches this symptom profile. Treatment involves choosing the appropriate remedy, which is administered in minute doses with the aim of stimulating the individual’s healing response.
Under the Homeopathy Act, 2007, the scope of practice is defined as “the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health.” The College of Homeopaths of Ontario has created a series of professional practice standards and guidelines to define the safe and effective practice and scope of practice for homeopathy.
Homeopaths work in a variety of settings including private practice, multi-practitioner health-care centres, pharmacies, and other health-care settings.
Homeopathy may be used independently to treat acute or chronic illness or disorders or as an adjunct to other forms of health care. In many cases homeopaths are part of the patient’s multi-disciplinary health care team. A referral is not required to see a homeopath.
In a survey of homeopaths conducted in 2017, respondents were asked to describe the primary reason each of their most recent five patients came to see them. A broad array of issues was identified.
At the first consultation the homeopath will spend at least one to two hours, sometimes longer, asking detailed questions about one’s health, medical history, and lifestyle. The homeopath is seeking to understand how the patient experiences symptoms and how they affect daily life, so that s/he can assess and prescribe the most appropriate remedy to match the totality of symptoms. The homeopath will obtain informed consent prior to completing their visit with the patient and prior to providing remedy options. Subsequent consultations are often shorter in duration and will involve discussing the changes that have occurred, so that the homeopath can understand how the patient has responded to the remedy and what the next treatment step will be.
Since April 1, 2015, homeopathy has been a regulated health profession in Ontario. Regulation ensures all homeopaths meet the education and clinical experience criteria set out by the College of Homeopaths of Ontario. Homeopaths are required to undergo assessment to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and judgment in the practice of the profession. The competency-based assessment is conducted by a third-party assessment expert. Once an applicant has completed their assessment and satisfied the other necessary registration requirements, they may be considered for registration with the College of Homeopaths of Ontario. Check the CHO’s Public Register to learn about a practitioner’s registration status.
In Ontario, only members of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario are regulated and authorized to use the title “Homeopath” or “HOM.” Individuals who are not members of the College are prohibited from using this professional designation or from holding themselves out as qualified to practise as a homeopath. You can verify that your practitioner is a qualified and registered member by consulting the Public Register.
The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), which came into force on December 31, 1993, provides a common legislative framework under which all regulated health professions in Ontario must function. Currently 28 health professions are regulated under 26 health colleges.
The underlying objectives of the RHPA are: (Regulated Health Professionals Act)
- To protect the public from harm and from unqualified, incompetent or unfit providers;
- To promote safe, high quality care;
- To make regulated health professions accountable to the public;
- To provide patients/clients access to health-care professionals of their choice;
- To achieve equality and consistency by requiring all regulated health professions adhere to the same purposes, procedures and public interest principles;
To treat individual patients/clients and health professionals in an equitable manner.
Every regulated health profession in Ontario has, in addition to the RHPA, a profession-specific Act which establishes a regulatory college responsible for governing the profession to ensure the public is protected. The Homeopathy Act, 2007 established the College of Homeopaths of Ontario.
The Homeopathy Act, 2007 sets out:
- The scope of practice of homeopathy, defined as “…the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health”;
- Title protection, authorizing only members of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario the use of the title “homeopath,” a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language;
- The composition of the College Council.
In Ontario, the law sets out the responsibilities, powers and procedures for the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to regulate the profession of homeopathy in the interest of public protection. The College works for the public to ensure that homeopaths are qualified to offer safe, competent and ethical care consistent with its Standards and Guidelines.
What sets registered homeopaths apart is that, under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, they are accountable to the College of Homeopaths of Ontario to provide safe, competent and ethical practice. Each homeopath must participate in quality assurance and practice assessment programs to ensure continuing competency. Under certain circumstances, homeopaths and employers have an obligation to report registrants who are not practising ethically, safely and competently.