What is a Federalist Regulatory Structure and how will it affect the Shiatsu Society?
Statutory Regulation was required by the government for the more invasive complementary therapies, such as Acupuncture, Herbalism, Osteopathy and Chiropracty, as there was more apparent potential hazard in mistreatment. Voluntary Self regulation was advised for the ‘safer’ therapies such as Shiatsu, Bowen, Alexander Technique etc. Following a commissioned report by Professor Julie Stone, a federalist structure of self regulation was suggested as the most useful model. This would involve a number of therapies coming together under the umberella of one regulatory body. This would be both economically sound, and provide better safeguard for the public in the long term. Coming together under one independent regulatory body would ensure some consistency of high standards in all the therapies with regard to training, qualification, registration, insurance, research, auditing, health and safety, infection control, ethical standards and complaints procedures, and criminal records bureau checks
