Licensing naturopaths is akin to the FAA licensing some guy with a bird suit.

FORBES: Michigan May Legalize Fake Doctors

This would be awfully difficult for naturopaths, whose practices include homeopathy, colloidal silver treatments, and chelation therapy, to name but a few.

FORBES: Naturopathic shenanigans in the Maryland legislature

As Peter Lipson explained recently in his Forbes column, naturopaths are little more than fake doctors, whose practices are a modern-day version of folk medicine.

FORBES: Naturopathic shenanigans in the Maryland legislature

One thing is clear, though: naturopaths are trying to get licensed in multiple states (Lipson described their efforts in Michigan) as a route towards legitimacy.

FORBES: Naturopathic shenanigans in the Maryland legislature

In my home state, naturopaths are currently trying to become licensed medical practitioners, with official sanction to do whatever it is they do and to regulate themselves.

FORBES: Michigan May Legalize Fake Doctors

By adding a naturopath to the Maryland State Board of Physicians, and by requiring them to license naturopaths to practice medicine, the legislature is forcing physicians to act unethically.

FORBES: Naturopathic shenanigans in the Maryland legislature

When the naturopaths tried this in Massachusetts 10 years ago, my colleague Kimball Atwood put together detailed testimony describing many of the unscientific and downright dangerous practices of naturopaths.

FORBES: Naturopathic shenanigans in the Maryland legislature