COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 92
Regulatory Modernization
State governments have been prompted to revisit and update
outdated laboratory access regulations to reflect modern health
autonomy principles [13].in the ordering process [10].
Laboratory Direct Services
Many laboratories have established consumer-direct testing
services, recognizing the growing demand for individual access to
health information.
Most of these platforms operate legally by incorporating physician
oversight into the ordering process while still allowing individuals to
receive and review their own results. This arrangement satisfies
regulatory requirements while empowering consumers with
greater access to their health data.
Boundaries for Non-Licensed Practitioners
While unlicensed practitioners cannot diagnose or treat disease,
there is no federal law prohibiting them from ordering or
interpreting lab tests when used for educational, nutritional, or
wellness guidance. This distinction has been key to the growth of
lab-based health coaching, integrative nutrition models, and
online wellness platforms [11]. However, state laws vary
significantly, and practitioners must be careful about how they
discuss and use laboratory information.
According to healthcare legal experts, unlicensed wellness
professionals should be particularly cautious about interpreting
laboratory results, as this activity could potentially cross into the
practice of medicine in many states [17]. To maintain compliance,
unlicensed practitioners working with laboratory data should:
● Frame discussions as educational rather than diagnostic
● Avoid using medical terminology and diagnostic categories
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