Naturopathy is not a registered profession in Australia. Practitioners in unregistered health professions are instead bound by the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers, which sets minimum standards of practice and conduct — and gives you a clear route to complain if those standards are not met.
What the Code requires
Under the National Code, a health care worker must, among other things:
- provide services in a safe and ethical manner, within their competence and training
- not make claims about the efficacy of treatment or services, in advertising or otherwise, that cannot be substantiated
- not attempt to dissuade a client from seeking or continuing medical treatment
- not mislead a client about the nature of the service or the practitioner's qualifications, training or professional affiliations
- keep appropriate records and maintain client confidentiality
- hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance
- report concerns about another practitioner's conduct
- make this Code and the complaints process available to clients
This is a summary. The full Code is published by the health complaints body in each state and territory.
How this practice works
- Naturopathic care here is complementary. It works alongside the care you receive from your doctor and does not replace it.
- You will never be advised to stop a prescribed medication. If that is something you want to explore, it is a conversation to have with the doctor who prescribed it.
- Where something needs medical assessment or falls outside what naturopathy can help with, you will be told so and referred on.
- Consultations are delivered by secure video.
Making a complaint
If you have a concern about your care, please raise it with the clinic first at info@waterwellclinic.co.nz.
You also have the right to complain directly to the health complaints body in your state or territory, and you do not have to contact the clinic first.
Qualifications
Kohei Iguchi holds a Bachelor of Naturopathic Medicine (BNatMed) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc), with more than ten years in practice.