Texas is not the first attempt to try and restrict the right of the public to professional colon cleansing treatment.

In 1983 in Massachusetts the state government (Attorney General?) attempted to close down the practice of colon hydrotherapy completely, but eventually settled for the requirement that an MD write a prescription prior to a client receiving a colonic. From what I have been told, at the time, that added $35 to $50 to the price of a first-time colonic.

Later during the 1980's, the California Medical Association (CMA) attempted to ban colonics entirely. They even tried to make giving an enema to a family member at home a crime if not administered by an MD or RN under the supervision of an MD. Eventually, the state legislature became involved and put an end to such harrassment.

The recent situation in Texas was prompted by stupidity and carelessness on the part of a colon therapist there using a gravity flow system who left an elderly client alone on the system for an extended period of time that resulted in her death. It was a very sad case that should never have happened.

I just came across this post. I am not surprised that such situations occur. To me, it's mainstream medicine feeling threatened by holistic medicine. So what do they do? They get their connections with various govermental levels (trying to run our lives) and push for something like this.

There are a fair number of people who get colonics, and among them are many notable people including a good number of celebrities. It is even alleged that the late Princess Diana also got colonics.

I reside near NYC and have in the past taken colonics there. I hope such interference doesn't occur in NYC. There was a case a number of years ago where a fatality occurred, but it didn't have a damaging effect on the practice.

As for enemas being supervised by a nurse or doctor - well that is simply ludicrous, unless of course it's in a medical setting. And if you want to see where, say, many visiting nurse organizations stand on this, just call one and see if they're going to visit someone needing an enema or enemas. And if they are an organization that does make house visits for enemas-you most certainly are going to need a written prescription by a medical doctor.

On a similar point, the mercury thermometer issue is one where I personally feel there is way too much knee-jerking about the use of these instruments. By the way, though there is an outcry on this, these thermometer are still used,(I saw a medical student using one on a patient-I must admit I was surprised) though to find them in many drug stores is difficult. Personally I'm a believer in the glass mercury rectal thermometer being the best thermometer for accuracy. I found though, many medical supply places still sell them. Only thing is most come from CHINA, BRAZIL and INDIA and some other countries.

I hope the government (at all levels) stays out of how Americans take care of themselves.