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Scope of Practice for Naturopathic Physicians:
Standards, Limits and Conditions for Prescribing, Dispensing and
Compounding Drugs
May 27, 2010
(Edited 23.09.10)
___________________________________________________________________________________ Standards, Limits and Conditions Draft Framework

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia gratefully acknowledges the College of
Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) for permission to use material from “Scope of
Practice for Nurse Practitioners (Family), Standards, Limits and Conditions”, CRNBC, April 2007;
for their pioneering efforts in this area of health regulation and for their generous assistance.
The College also wishes to acknowledge the extensive support and collaboration received from the
College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC). Their support and assistance has been invaluable.
The CNPBC looks forward to ongoing collaboration with these and other health regulatory Colleges
in the implementation of prescriptive authority for naturopathic physicians.
___________________________________________________________________________________
CNPBC Standards of Practice

CNPBC is responsible under the Health Professions Act for setting standards of practice for its registrants.
Scope of Practice Standards

Scope of Practice Standards set out standards, limits and conditions related to the scope of practice for
naturopathic physicians. (See Appendix A.)
___________________________________________________________________________________
Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………5
Section A – Prescribing and Dispensing
PART l – Standards……………………………………………………………………….6
Prescribing
PART ll – Limits and Conditions…………………………………………………………14 Section B – Physician Consultation and Referral PART l – Standards……………………………………………………………………….21 PART ll – Limits and Conditions…………………………………………………………22 Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………23 Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E ___________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction

The Government of British Columbia introduced and approval was granted for revisions to the Health
Professions Act, Naturopathic Physicians’ Regulation (B.C. Reg. 449/99) and the Bylaws of the College of
Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia in 2009, which will enable the implementation of prescriptive
authority for naturopathic physicians in BC.
The legal authority for the practice of naturopathic medicine is set out in the Naturopathic Physicians
Regulation, under the Health Professions Act. (See Appendix A.)
Naturopathic physicians must meet requirements for ongoing registration, including meeting continuing
competency and quality assurance requirements. These requirements are currently undergoing further
development in concert with the current initiative.
This document includes the standards, with limits and conditions, specific to the scope of naturopathic
physician practice for prescribing, dispensing and compounding medications.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Section A – Prescribing, Dispensing and Compounding Drugs

PART 1 – STANDARDS

Prescribing Standards

STANDARD 1
Naturopathic physicians prescribe drugs within the limits of the naturopathic physicians’ scope of practice
and individual competence within that scope of practice.

STANDARD 2
Naturopathic physicians prescribe from provincial Drug Schedules l, ll and lll in accordance with the BC
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and the federal Controlled and Drug
Substances Act and Regulation and the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC)
Prescribing Standards, Limits and Conditions.

STANDARD 3
Naturopathic physicians prescribe medications in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards
of drug therapy.

STANDARD 4
Naturopathic physicians engage in evidence-based prescribing and consider best practice guidelines and
other relevant guidelines when prescribing for clients, including when recommending other therapies.

STANDARD 5
Naturopathic physicians may write prescriptions for clients (when required for reimbursement by insurance
plans or to meet provincial regulations) for nutritional supplementation, appliances and devices and for drugs
found in Schedules ll and lll. (Drugs listed in Schedules ll and lll do not legally require a prescription).

STANDARD 6
Naturopathic physicians are solely accountable for their prescribing decisions.

STANDARD 7
Naturopathic physicians participate in the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Program.
___________________________________________________________________________________ STANDARD 8
Naturopathic physicians meet the following expectations when prescribing drugs:
• Completes prescriptions accurately and completely including the following information (Bylaws to the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and Regulations): • date of issue; • name and address (if available) of client; • name, strength and dosage form of the substance and the quantity prescribed and quantity to be dispensed (Note: If the prescriber intends to prohibit generic substitution, it must be
done in accordance with section 30 (1) and (3) of the Pharmacy Act);
• directions for use – refers to the frequency or interval or maximum daily dose, route of administration and the duration of drug therapy; • directions for number of allowable refills and interval between refills (Note: While it is not
legally required, if a prescription includes more than one drug, any drug that may be refilled must be clearly identified. If all drugs on a multiple prescription are to be refilled, identify the number of allowable refills for each drug); and • prescriber’s name, address, telephone number and signature including unique naturopathic physicians identifier/number.
Note: Other elements, not legally required but that might be considered when prescribing include: indicating
if a child resistant container is not indicated; indicating the use of the drug; noting client age, date of birth and
weight if the client is on either end of the extreme of their weight range; and/or including special instructions,
such as “take with food.”
Note: A prescription may be telephoned to the pharmacist (unless prohibited by legislation) and must include
the prescription information outlined above.
Note: A prescription may be transmitted by facsimile (fax) to a pharmacy, provided that the following
requirements are met (Pharmacy Act):
• the prescription must be sent only to the pharmacy of the client’s choice with no intervening person having access to the prescription authorization; • the prescription must be sent directly from the prescriber’s office or directly from a health institution for a patient of that institution, or from another location providing that the pharmacist is confident of the prescription legitimacy; • the prescription must include all information listed above and in addition must include: • name and fax number of the pharmacy intended to receive the transmission; and • Documents the prescription on the client record. ___________________________________________________________________________________ • Provides educational information to clients about prescription and non-prescription drugs that includes • the expected action of the drug and expected duration of therapy; • the importance of compliance with prescribed frequency and duration of the drug therapy; • signs and symptoms of potential adverse effects (e.g., allergic reactions) and action to take • potential interactions between the drug and certain foods, other drugs or substances; • specific precautions to take or instructions to follow; and • Monitors and documents the client’s response to drug therapy. Based on the client’s response, the naturopathic physician may decide to continue, adjust or withdraw the drug, or to consult with a pharmacist, another naturopathic physician or with an MD in accordance with the CNPBC standards for naturopathic physician and MD consultation. • When client care is shared with an MD, conjointly determines with the MD processes for access to the client’s health record for purposes of treatment decisions and communication. • Stores blank prescriptions in a secure area that is not accessible to the public and does not provide any person with a blank, signed prescription. • Does not prescribe for them self or become involved in self-care (subject to development of CNPBC • If other options are not available, may prescribe for family, friends or peers, provided the client/provider relationship is established and documented (subject to development of CNPBC policies). • When receiving information from a pharmaceutical representative, independently verifies the ___________________________________________________________________________________ Dispensing Standards (Drugs)

STANDARD 1
Naturopathic physicians dispense medications only in situations in which a pharmacist is not available or
accessible, and/or it is in the best interest of the client to do so. *

STANDARD 2
Naturopathic physicians acquire, store, dispense and dispose of drugs in accordance with provincial and
federal legislation and regulations, and standards and guidelines for best practice. Naturopathic physicians
who dispense drugs other than drug samples or small quantities of medications must receive approval from
the CNPBC to be designated as a dispensing practitioner (Full). Once approved, a dispensing practitioner
must meet standards required of pharmacists (see College of Pharmacists of BC Framework of Professional
Practice, see Appendix C) and will be subject to monitoring regarding these standards. Registrants should
consider carefully the commitment of time, resources and personal involvement of the registrant that meeting
such standards will require before making application for such approval. Such authorization will rarely be
granted. Factors such as extreme geographic isolation and lack of alternative sources for required
substances will be considered.*
(* Notwithstanding Standard 1 and 2 above, naturopathic physicians may continue to dispense botanical and
other medicinal preparations which are not Scheduled items in accordance with their historical scope of
practice, professional training and qualifications, subject to such standards, limits and conditions that may be
issued by the College from time to time. There is also a specific protocol for scheduled “Historical Use” items
found in Standard 3 below.)
STANDARD 3
A number of substances which were historically used by naturopathic physicians, but which have since
become scheduled items (e.g.-digitalis) are listed in Appendix B. Dispensing manufactured naturopathic
medicines containing the “historical use” agents in Appendix B is only appropriate when such preparations
are not readily available through local pharmacies. Dispensing is only authorized in such situations. All
relevant standards for labeling, record keeping and security, as per the College of Pharmacists of BC
Framework of Professional Practice (Appendix C) must be met. (Registrants should consider carefully the
commitment of time, resources and personal involvement of the registrant that meeting such standards will
require before dispensing such items.)
The list of historically used scheduled items approved for use under this standard, including
vitamins, minerals, amino acids and some botanicals, may be found in Appendix B.

STANDARD 4
Botanical preparations that contain scheduled agents must be treated as scheduled items. Naturopathic
physicians using these botanicals must meet all applicable standards for prescribing, dispensing and/or
compounding scheduled substances, notwithstanding that such items may have been used in practice
historically by naturopathic physicians. The exception is that botanicals on the “historical use” list in Appendix
B may be prepared (compounded; e.g.-tinctures) and dispensed by the naturopathic physician, so long as
the preparation contains the appropriate strength, dosage and duration for safe individual use and all labeling
and charting requirements are met.
___________________________________________________________________________________ STANDARD 5

Naturopathic physicians meet the following expectations when dispensing drug samples, including samples
of historical use substances, or small quantities of medication to their clients (see College of Pharmacists
guidelines for further details).
• The prescription label (or envelope) indicates (Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations and Drug • drug name, strength where appropriate, and dosage; • prescribing number of prescriber; and • initials of naturopathic physician distributing the drug and the location from which the drug is dispensed, including name, address and telephone number. Note: Any other information required by good pharmacy practice (not in the Act) is affixed, such as: expiry
date; when applicable; or appropriate special circumstances/auxiliary labels (e.g., shake well).
• When indicated, the drug is dispensed in a child resistant container. • The label can be easily read by the client or client’s guardian or representative. • The drug is handed directly to the client or the client’s guardian or representative. • Client education is provided and includes assessment of the client’s level of understanding regarding the drug, including but not limited to the: • Dosage regime and instructions required to achieve the intended therapeutic response, expected benefits and side-effects, storage requirements; and • The transaction(s) is accessible and recorded on an individual client record each time a drug is dispensed. The profile will include: • client name, address, phone number, date of birth, gender and , when available, allergies and idiosyncratic responses and personal health number assigned by the BC Ministry of Health; ___________________________________________________________________________________ • name, strength, dosage of drug and quantity dispensed; • signature and unique identifier of the naturopathic physician dispensing the drug. Standard 6
Naturopathic physicians who do not meet these standards and other standards that may be issued by the
CNPBC regarding dispensing from time to time may be subject to disciplinary action and/or revocation of
privileges by the College.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Compounding Standards (Drugs)

Definition: Per Naturopathic Physicians Regulation, 2009:
“ "compound" means
(a) in respect of a drug, to mix with one or more other ingredients, and
(b) in respect of a therapeutic diet, to mix two or more ingredients; “
STANDARD 1
Naturopathic physicians will utilize the services of compounding pharmacies whenever feasible when
compounding is required.
STANDARD 2
Registrants who wish to be compounding practitioners (Full) must meet all standards and principles in
Appendix C, Framework of Professional Practice. This category (Full) is not intended for most registrants and
will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Compounding involving scheduled items presents considerable risk and therefore registrants should only
consider becoming compounding practitioners (Full) where there are no acceptable alternatives such as the
use of compounding pharmacies. Compounding involving scheduled items for in-office therapeutic use
should only be performed by naturopathic physicians who are certified in practices where there are well-
established protocols for such use (e.g.- chelation, prolotherapy).
Naturopathic physicians who wish to assume the responsibilities of a compounding naturopathic physician
(Full) must apply to the CNPBC in writing regarding their rationale and specific needs for requiring
compounding in their practice and providing assurances that they will meet all College of Pharmacists of BC
compounding standards. Such authorization (Full) will rarely be granted.
STANDARD 3
Naturopathic physicians are permitted to compound “Historical use” items noted in Appendix B for
authorized in-office procedures (e.g.- chelation- adding vitamins to chelation IV bag. See certification
reference under Standard 4 below.). Please note that, due to the definitions above, even adding water to a
scheduled item constitutes compounding. This limited “historical use” authorization to “compound” is for in-
office procedures only. Medicines for patients' use outside the clinic that require the compounding of
scheduled items must generally be obtained via a prescription filled by a pharmacy. (Exceptions may be
found under Standard 5 below.)
STANDARD 4
Naturopathic physicians who are required to use more than one scheduled substance simultaneously (i.e.-
compounding) in order to meet the requirements of an established treatment protocol (e.g.- chelation,
prolotherapy, ozone therapy) are authorized to do so for in-office procedures only. See Appendix D for further
details. See www.cnpbc.bc.ca/Docs-Forms-Policies.html , under “Certification Requirements for All
Specialty Therapies”
STANDARD 5
Compounded substances may not be sold to patients for out of office use unless there is no viable
compounding pharmacy alternative AND the naturopathic physician has been approved as a Dispensing
Practitioner (full) by CNPBC and the registrant meets all NAPRA and CPBC standards and principles for
compounding. Further, any such transaction must follow CNPBC pricing guidelines in this regard. A
___________________________________________________________________________________ maximum charge of 15 % above cost to cover overhead for scheduled items is approved, to reduce the
possibility of any conflict of interest or the perception of a conflict. Exception:
An exception for “historical use” items in Appendix B is noted here. Compounded medicines involving
“historical use” scheduled items and unscheduled substances are authorized for dispensing, so long as such
items are not readily available through local pharmacies. See (Appendix B) and Dispensing Standard 4
above.
STANDARD 6
Naturopathic physicians who do not meet these standards and other standards that may be issued by the
CNPBC regarding compounding from time to time may be subject to disciplinary action and/or revocation of
prescribing, dispensing or compounding privileges.



___________________________________________________________________________________ PART ll – LIMITS AND CONDITIONS

Naturopathic physicians prescribe drugs approved for sale as outlined in the BC Pharmacists, Pharmacy
Operations and Drug Scheduling Act and the federal Food and Drug Act and Regulations, and in accordance
with CNPBC’s Standards for Prescribing and Dispensing Drugs.
Naturopathic physicians within certain contexts of practice may require broader prescriptive authority than
what is permitted in the limits and conditions. Such groups of naturopathic physicians will apply to the
CNPBC multidisciplinary Pharmacopoeia and Diagnostic Procedures Committee to expand their prescribing
authority. The committee will set standards and other requirements, such as educational preparation, that
specific groups of prescribers must meet to be approved for expanded authority.
Naturopathic physicians will have authority to request “Special Authority” medications ** with the exception of
two situations:
• They will not have “Special Authority” privileges for prescribing those drugs that have been designated for physician specialist only; and • They will not have “Special Authority” privileges for prescribing medications that are excluded for
NOTE: Under the federal Controlled Drug Substances Act and Regulations, naturopathic physicians
do not have authority to prescribe narcotics and controlled drugs, including benzodiazepines and
other targeted substances. While this may be reviewed at some time in the future, this is the current legal
situation.
Please note that certain classes of drugs are federally controlled and are not available for prescribing by
naturopathic physicians in BC. See Appendix E for a link to a complete listing of federally controlled
substances.
___________________________________________________________________________________
LIMITS AND CONDITIONS

Naturopathic physicians are authorized by the Naturopathic Physicians Regulation under the Health
Professions Act to prescribe Schedule l drugs as specified in the Drug Schedules Regulation 9/98 of the
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act, except for drugs excluded as per the
Naturopathic Physicians Regulation and drugs excluded in the CNPBC limits and conditions.
1) Drugs to be excluded from the scope of practice of naturopathic physicians as per the Naturopathic
Physicians Regulation are found in Appendix F. 2) Additional drugs excluded in accordance with the CNPBC limits and conditions are listed below:
Antibiotics with narrow therapeutic index
Note: No antibiotic may be administered in any parenteral form.
Amphotercin B and its salts and derivatives Apramycin and its salts Atovaquone Aztreonam and its salts Bacitracin and its salts and derivatives (for parenteral use only) Candicidin and its salts and derivatives Carbomycin and its salts and derivatives Caspofungin and its salts and derivatives Cefoperazone and its salts and derivatives Cilastatin and its salts Colistin and its salt and derivatives Dalfopristin and its salts Dihydrostreptomycin and its salts and derivatives Enrofloxacin Ertapenem and its salts Gentamicin (excluded for parenteral use only) Grepafloxacin and its salts and derivatives Hetacillin and its salts and derivatives Imipenem and its salts and derivatives Marbofloxacin and its salts and derivatives Mecillinam and its salts and derivatives Mezlocillin and its salts and derivatives Oxacillin and its salts and derivatives Quinupristin and its salts Streptomycin and its salts and derivatives Tazobactam and its salts and derivatives Ticarcillin and its salts and derivatives Tobramycin and its salts and derivatives (excluded for parenteral use only) Trovafloxacin and its salts and derivatives Vancomycin and its salts and derivatives Virginiamycin and its salts and derivatives Voriconazole ___________________________________________________________________________________ Antiviral agents
Foscarnet sodium Ganciclovir and its salts Idoxuridine Ribavirin Valganciclovir and its salts and derivatives Botulinum toxin types A & B
Antineoplastic Agents
Cyproterone and its derivatives 5-Fluorouracil (excluded for intravenous use only) Hydroxyurea Vinblastine and its salts Vincristine and its salts Vindesine and its salts Vinorelbine and its salts Note: Periwinkle alkaloids in naturopathic preparations are allowed but shall not be used as chemotherapeutic agents
Anticonvulsants
Methoin (mephenytoin) and its salts Oxcarbazepine Phenacemide Primidone Topiramate Trimethadione Valproic acid and its salts Vigabatrin and its salts and derivatives Note: the following agents are only allowed for the management of pain: Gabapentin and its salts and derivatives
Disease Modifying Agents
The following agents are allowed for continuation therapy only: Azathioprine Methotrexate The following agent is allowed for chelation therapy purposes only: Penicillamine
Emergency Medicine Agents
Amrinone and its salts Bosentan and its salts and derivatives Digoxin immune Fab (ovine) Dobutamine and its salts Drotrecogin Fomepizole and its salts Hetastarch and its derivatives Leucovorin and its salts Milrinone and its salts Physostigmine salicylate (except preparations for oral or topical use only) Sodium nitroprusside and its salts ___________________________________________________________________________________
Endocrine Agents / Endocrine Diagnostic Agents
Gonadorelin and its salts Mepacrine and its salts Metyrapone and its salts Nafarelin and its salts and derivatives Pegvisomant Protirelin TRH analog Quinagolide and its salts Sermorelin and its salts Terlipressin and its salts Triiodothyropropionic acid Trilostane
Certain agents used for ‘Emergency Purposes Only’
The following agents are authorized only for in-office emergency use. All other indications for these agents are not
allowed:
Adenosine Amiodarone Atropine Dopamine Procainamide Propafenone Verapamil Parenteral iron products
Agents dealing with Acute Perinatal Care
Beractant Colfosceril and its derivatives Nitric oxide Poractant alfa
Obstetrical Agents Out-Patient Setting
Carbetocin and its salts Oxytocin Ritodrine and its salts
Ophthalmic Agents
Agents used for the treatment of iritis or glaucoma agents: Bimatoprost and its derivatives Brimonidine and its salts Carbachol Dipivefrin Dorzolamide Ecothiophate Levobunolol Methazolamide Pilocarpine Unoprostone Topical corticosteroids: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Dexamethasone (excluded for ophthalmic use only) Prednisolone (excluded for ophthalmic use only) Micellaneous ophthalmic preparations; Pegaptanib Trifluridine Verteporfin Antiparkinsonism Agents
Benserazide and its salts Biperiden and its salts Entacapone Tolcapone
Antipsychotic Agents
Acepromazine and its salts Butaperazine and its salts Chlorpromazine and its salts Chlorprothixene and its salts Clozapine and its salts Flupenthixol and its salts and derivatives Fluphenazine and its salts Haloperidol Lithium and its salts in doses > 150mg equivalent of lithium carbonate Loxapine and its salts Mesoridazine and its salts Methotrimeprazine and its salts Olanzapine and it salts Pericyazine and its salts Perphenazine and its salts Pimozide Pipotiazine and its salts Prochlorperazine and its salts Promazine and its salts Quetiapine and its salts Remoxipride and its salts Risperidone and its salts Tetrabenazine and its salts Thiethylperazine and its salts Thioridazine and its salts Thiothixene and its salts Trifluoperazine and its salts Triflupromazine and its salts Trimeprazine and its salts Zuclopenthixol and its salts and derivatives
Antiarrhythmic agents
Bretylium tosylate Disopyramide and its salts Esmolol and its salts Flecainide and its salts Ibutilide and its salts and derivatives Isoproterenol (isoprenaline) and its salts Methoxamine and its salts ___________________________________________________________________________________ Mexiletine and its salts Procainamide and its salts Propafenone and its salts Quinidine salts Sotalol and its salts Tocainide and its salts Verapamil and its salts
Antitubercular agents used for other infections
Thrombolytic, Hemostatic and Anti-platelet Agents
Alteplase and its salts and derivatives Aminocaproic acid Aprotinin Argatroban and its salts and derivatives Bivalirudin Danaparoid and its salts and derivatives Enoxaparin and its salts Eptifibatide and its salts Reviparin and its salts Streptokinase/streptodornase Tenecteplase and its salts and derivatives Tirofiban and its salts and derivatives Tranexamic acid New drugs approved for sale in Canada
Any drug approved that is in a category in which all drugs in that category are approved for ND
prescribing, the new agent shall be automatically approved.
Any drug newly approved by Health Canada that is in a category in which NOT all drugs in that
category are approved for ND prescribing, the new agent shall go to the PDR Committee for review.
Any drug newly approved by Health Canada that is in a category in which all drugs in that category
are restricted by regulations or by the PDR Committee shall be automatically be restricted.
If there is any doubt regarding the status of a new drug approved for sale in Canada, please
contact the CNPBC office.

Diagnostic Testing Standards

To ensure patient safety, all naturopathic physicians who are authorized to prescribe must have access to
and appropriately utilize laboratory and other diagnostic testing in the assessment, treatment and monitoring
of patients receiving prescription drugs. Currently, naturopathic physicians in BC must continue to utilize
laboratory and other diagnostic testing as available in order to ensure patient safety in accordance with best
practices and their professional judgement.
CNPBC will issue further detailed Standards, Limits and Conditions regarding diagnostic testing at such time
as such services become widely accessible within BC following consultations with the Ministry of Health
Services and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Section B – Physician Consultation and Referral

PART 1 – STANDARDS

Consultation and collaboration with other health care providers is an essential component of safe,
appropriate and integrated prescribing practices. Naturopathic physicians initiate discussion, collaboration,
consultation with and/or refer to other members of the health care team in a timely and appropriate manner.
Consultation, including referral, as used in these Standards, refers to a specific request to or by an MD to
become involved in the care of a client with respect to prescribing. The responsibility to consult with or refer
to a medical doctor lies with the naturopathic physician and is made in collaboration with the client. A
naturopathic physician may also seek consultation with or transfer care to an MD at the request of the client.
Consultation may result in one of the following levels of physician involvement:
The MD provides an opinion and recommendation to the naturopathic physician who continues to have
primary responsibility for the health care of the client;
The MD assumes concurrent responsibility for some aspects of the care, and the MD and naturopathic
physician together clarify who is assuming responsibility for the various aspects of the client’s care, including
coordination of the overall care; or
The care of the client is transferred to the MD who then assumes primary responsibility for the care.
The naturopathic physician documents the request for and outcome of the consultation or referral.
Transfer or sharing of care occurs after discussion and agreement among the client, the referring
naturopathic physician and the MD.

Standards

STANDARD 1
The naturopathic physician consults or refers to an MD when the client’s health condition or needs are such
that:
• the diagnosis and plan of treatment is beyond the knowledge, skill and judgment of the naturopathic • the care that is required is beyond the naturopathic physician’s competencies and scope of • sign(s), symptom(s) or report(s) or diagnostic or laboratory tests suggest that a client’s condition is destabilizing or deteriorating and is beyond the ability of the naturopathic physician to manage; or • the anticipated outcomes of therapy are not realized and further treatment is beyond the ability of the naturopathic physician to manage, or the target symptoms are not responding to treatment. ___________________________________________________________________________________ STANDARD 2
The naturopathic physician communicates and consults with or refers to MD’s by:
• clearly presenting the reason for and the level of urgency of the consultation or referral; • describing the level of MD involvement requested at the time a referral is made; • determining the availability of the MD to provide the consultation in a timely and appropriate • ensuring that the MD has appropriate access to the client’s relevant health information; • confirming with the MD, following the consultation, the level of MD involvement; and • documenting the request for and outcome of the consultation or referral. • communicating information regarding the discontinuation of medications that were initiated by the
STANDARD 3
The naturopathic physician and the consulting MD conjointly establish methods for communicating about
their mutual client’s health condition and treatment decisions in situations in which client care is shared.

PART ll – LIMITS AND CONDITIONS

Naturopathic physicians can make referrals to family physicians. Due to current limitations that exist in MSP
coverage, naturopathic physicians should not refer directly to medical specialists. Referrals to family
physicians should be made in such circumstances and the family physician can make any required specialist
referrals at their discretion.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendices
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix A

THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS REGULATION

The Naturopathic Physicians Regulation is available online at:
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/notice/naturopathic_medicine.html and it sets out, among other things:
• reserved titles for naturopathic physicians; • a scope of practice statement; • restricted activities for naturopathic physicians • prescriptive drug exclusions RESERVED TITLES

The Regulation states that only registrants of the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia may
use the titles “naturopath”, “naturopathic physician” and “naturopathic doctor”. The Regulation also identifies
that registrants may use the titles “doctor” and “physician”, the use of which is limited by the CNPBC bylaws.

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Scope of practice refers to the activities that naturopathic physicians are educated and authorized to
perform. These activities are:
• established through the legislated definition of naturopathic medicine and restricted activities • further articulated by Standards, Limits and Conditions set by the CNPBC.
Under the Regulation, a registrant of CNPBC may practice naturopathic medicine, which is defined as “the
health profession in which a person provides the services of prevention, assessment and treatment of an
individual's diseases, disorders and conditions using education and naturopathic techniques, therapies or
therapeutics to stimulate or support healing processes and promote, maintain or restore the overall health of
the individual”;
STANDARDS, LIMITS AND CONDITIONS

The Health Professions Act and the Naturopathic Physicians Regulation give CNPBC authority to establish,
monitor and enforce standards, limits and conditions for naturopathic physicians’ practice.

Standard: A desired and achievable level of performance against which actual performance can be
compared. It provides a benchmark below which performance is unacceptable.

Limits and Conditions: A limit is the point at which something must end. The Pharmacopoeia and
Diagnostic Referral (PDR) Committee develops and recommends naturopathic physicians' standards, limits
and conditions for approval by the CNPBC Board.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix B
Approved “Historical Use” Scheduled Botanicals, Vitamins, Minerals, and Amino Acids

Botanicals
Apiol, oil of parsley
Atropa belladonna
Colchicum autumnale
Digitalis lanita and purpurea
Rauwolfia serpentina
Veratrum album and viridie
Vitamins
Folic acid in doses >1mg
Vitamin A > 10,000iu oral per oral dose
Vitamin B12 with intrinsic factor
Vitamin D > 1000iu per dose
Vitamin K
Parenteral vitamins
Minerals
Calcium and its salts for parenteral use
Chromium and its salts for parenteral use
Copper and its salts for parenteral use
Fluoride and it salts
Lithium and its salts in doses equivalent to ≤150mg lithium carbonate
Magnesium and its salts for parenteral use
Manganese and its salts for parenteral use
Potassium and its salts for parenteral use
Selenium and its salts for parenteral use
Silver and its salts
Sodium chloride for parenteral nutrition
Sodium fluoride
Iodine and its salts for parenteral use
Strontium and its salts
Zinc and its salts for parenteral use
Amino Acids
Amino acid solutions for parenteral use
Amino acids sold as single entities
Pancreatic enzymes
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix C

College of Pharmacists of BC Framework of Professional Practice may be found at:
http://www.bcpharmacists.org/legislation_standards/provincial_legislation/framework_of_professional_practice.php



___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix D

Use of more than one scheduled item for advanced practices

Naturopathic physicians who are certified in chelation, prolotherapy, bio-oxidative therapies or other
advanced practices are authorized to compound and use more than one scheduled substance if this is
required by an established treatment protocol. Examples of such situations follow. Established treatment
protocols may involve the use of the following scheduled items:
Chelation
injectable vitamins/minerals as covered in Appendix B
Intravenous Therapy
injectable vitamins/minerals and amino acids as covered in Appendix B
Prolotherapy
Authorized Anaesthetics
Dextrose
Sodium Morrhuate
P2G (Phenol, glycerin, dextrose)
Growth Hormone
Hyaluronic Acid Injectable
Glucosamine sulfate injectable
Bio-oxidative therapy
Heparin
sodium citrate
Other therapeutic protocols may emerge which require the simultaneous use of multiple scheduled items for
in office procedures. These will be reviewed by the College for approval.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix E

Classes of Controlled Substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)
The classes of substances briefly described below are federally controlled under the CDSA. They are not
authorized for prescribing or use by naturopathic physicians in BC.
The expression "controlled substance" means a substance included in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V. For a detailed listing of federally controlled substances and the language of the CDSA, check the CDSA and related Government of Canada websites, such as: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C38.8/ or alternative websites such as: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/sc-1996-c-19/latest/sc-1996-c-19.html • Schedule I: narcotic drugs such as opium, morphine and cocaine.
• Schedule II: cannabis, hashish, cannabinol, etc.
• Schedule III: stimulants such as amphetamines, hallucinogenics, such as mescaline, LSD and
DET, and sedatives such as methaqualone, commonly called quaalude. • Schedule IV: among others, anabolic steroids (including testosterone), hypnotics such as
• Schedule V: enumerates other substances that may be abused.
• Schedule VI: precursors, which produce no effects on the mind but can be converted or used to
produce designer drugs, "simili-drugs" or substances contained in the schedules under Canada's international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) and the Vienna Convention of 1988. • Schedules VII and VIII: concerning application of penalties for cannabis offences.
___________________________________________________________________________________ Appendix F

Drug exclusions per the Naturopathic Physicians Regulation may be found on the Ministry of Health website
at:
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/notice/naturopathic_medicine.html
Schedule
Excluded Schedule I Drugs
Amprenavir and its salts and derivatives Choriogonadotripin alfa Cinacalcet and its salts Clonazepam and its salts Clorazepic acid and its salts ___________________________________________________________________________________ entity or when included in a preparation Formestane and its salts and derivatives Didanosine and its salts and derivatives Lincomycin and its salts and derivatives Fludarabine and its salts and derivatives ___________________________________________________________________________________ Loracarbef and its salts and derivatives Raltitrexed and its salts and derivatives Saquinavir and its salts and derivatives Netilmicin and its salts and derivatives ___________________________________________________________________________________

Source: http://www.cnpbc.bc.ca/PDF-2010/SLC.%20Scope%20of%20Practice%20for%20Naturopathic%20Physicians%20Standards,%20Limits%20and%20Conditions%20for%20Prescribing%20Dispensing%20and%20Compounding%20Drugs%20(Final)%20corrections%2023.09.10.pdf