Bernard-Alain Lalandre, acupuncturist based in Meschers-sur-Gironde (Charente-Maritime), warns: “I don't intend to stop stinging.
"He is being prosecuted this Thursday before the Saintes Criminal Court for" illegal exercise of the profession of doctor ".
Philippe Simon, a second practitioner practicing in Royan, is also called to appear.
Their fault?
Practice this traditional Chinese medicine without having the title of doctor of medicine.
The Public Health Code is formal: only doctors, midwives and dentists can legally practice acupuncture and affix fine eels under the epidermis.
“It's a witch hunt.
We are not charlatans ”, nevertheless proclaim Bernard-Alain Lalandre and Philippe Simon who incur a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros.
“I never claimed to be a doctor!
"
At the origin of these lawsuits: the departmental council of the order of the doctors which studied, in Charente-Maritime, the profiles of several acupuncturists before transmitting a dozen reports to the local prosecution.
In January 2022, six other practitioners - a woman and five men - will appear in turn before the Criminal Court of La Rochelle.
"We are responding to a national slogan", explained Pascal Révolat, the former president of the Order in Charente-Maritime during the media coverage of this affair last winter.
“Some patients suffer from serious pathologies such as cancer.
We want to prevent them from abandoning their treatments in favor of acupuncturists who have no notion of classical medicine ”, justified this general practitioner at the time.
Read also Alternative medicine put to the test of science
President of the Public Health section of the National Council of the Order of Physicians, Bruno Boyer confirms: “This is a firm position of the Order.
Acupuncture is a medical act according to the Court of Cassation, it supposes a proven competence, a security that these non-professionals do not guarantee.
The autonomy and safety of patients require real information.
They could be distracted by untested practices.
"
These positions ulcerated Philippe Simon: “I never claimed to be a doctor!
Acupuncture is all about regulating energy in the body.
The Order of Physicians is only trying to maintain its monopoly.
"He turned to acupuncture through his passion for martial arts:" I followed four years of training, more hours of specialization than a doctor!
"
The lawyer will plead the release
Bernard-Alain Lalandre shares this observation: “My training lasted seven years.
I started in 1966, graduated in Japan and never made a diagnosis!
"His lawyer, Me Antoine Gaire, is preparing to plead the release:" Bernard-Alain Lalandre has a nursing diploma.
A dentist could bite but not him?
It's hypocrisy: even Pôle Emploi finances acupuncturist training!
"
The National Council of the Order of Physicians is trying to "clean up the training offered", recalls Bruno Boyer while considering that the current legal proceedings against acupuncturists and non-doctors "are far too few" .
"Serene" as to the judgment, Philippe Simon wonders: "How can we pay our taxes, our contributions to Urssaf, professional insurance while being banned from exercising? "Bernard-Alain Lalandre, he says he is ready to move his activity:" It does not scare me. Portugal allows non-doctors to practice freely as long as they are well trained. "