- Target:
- Govenor Pat Quinn, State Representatives
- Region:
- United States of America
SB 318 threatens patient safety and dilutes the benefits of massage therapy and other healthcare services by allowing chiropractors to hire untrained, unlicensed employees to treat patients with medical conditions.
The far-reaching scope of this bill and the detrimental impact it poses on healthcare for all, makes it's passage a dangerous precedent for compromising the standards of safety and education as set by existing healthcare licensing acts. Currently, under Illinois law, delegating massage therapy or any other licensed healthcare service or activity is illegal. SB 318 passed the Illinois Senate, the House of Representative could vote on this issue within the next few weeks.
Please urge Illinois Governor Quinn and Illinois State Representatives to vote NO on SB 318.
We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the passage of SB 318 to amend the Medical Practice Act of 1987, and urge our State Representatives to vote NO.
The Illinois General Assembly has a strong record of protecting its citizens' health and welfare, and promoting the highest quality of care by requiring healthcare professionals to meet rigorous licensing standards.
SB 318 allows chiropractors to hire untrained, unlicensed employees to perform healthcare services and duties that are otherwise licensed activities in Illinois, circumventing the Massage Licensing Act and promote the unlicensed practice of massage therapy.
SB 318 does not require supervision of unlicensed employees, does not restrict their activities to the chiropractor's office, and does not limit the extent to which an unlicensed person may perform licensed activities, allowing unlicensed employees to perform licensed activities without any restrictions.
SB 318 provides NO standards of training or education. Marginally trained employees will be allowed to provide direct patient care to patients with medical conditions.
The Massage Licensing Act was passed by the House (111-3) and Senate (55-0) for the protection of the public and has been administered successfully by the Illinois Massage Licensing Board for more than 5 years.
The Massage Licensing Board has ensured compliance with professional standards of education, professional conduct and ethics and provided penalty to licensees in violation of these standards. These safeguards will not extend to unlicensed employees covered by SB 318.
It is in the best interest of the general public to maintain the integrity of the Massage Licensing Act. SB 318 creates a double standard for massage therapy and will lead to public confusion as to what is legitimate, professional massage therapy.
We urge you to vote NO on SB 318.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Protect Illinois Massage Licensing Act petition to Govenor Pat Quinn, State Representatives was written by Celia Bucci and is in the category Health at GoPetition.