RESOLUTION 61-03, 2004: Supporting Freedom for Patients and Physicians to Choose Natural Remedies

WHEREAS: the importance of diet has long been recognized in traditional Western medicine, as shown in the writings of Hippocrates; and

WHEREAS: with the advance of modern biochemical science and increasing contemporary sophistication of understanding nutritional requirements in general and specifically nutritional requirements of individuals with biochemical peculiarities, medical organizations should foster freedom of choice of therapy, recognizing the tremendous biochemical variability in individuals; and

WHEREAS: certain forces in world affairs, particularly the Codex Alimentarius of the World Health Organization under the auspices of the United Nations and the Nutritional Council of the European Community are in the process of restricting the availability of multiple nutrients and in particular high concentration of co-factors for nutrition; and

WHEREAS: the United States is a signatory to the World Trade Organization which requires member nations to harmonize national laws with that of the World Trade Organization; and

WHEREAS: members of the European Community have a substantial influence on decisions likely to be made by the World Trade Organization; and

WHEREAS: there is thus a substantial risk that such a harmonization might jeopardize the availability of multiple nutrient vitamins and co-factors to the American public; and

WHEREAS: AAPS supports the right and duty of physicians to prescribe for the good of their patients according to the best of their ability and judgment, and the right of patients to be free from government interference in their choice of therapy;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons supports the continued and increasing availability of vitamins and nutrients for the public at large and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons undertakes to lend its support and cooperation to other organizations working toward this goal, as determined appropriate by the Board of Directors.