If a patient does not have a previous medical evaluation from an MD (most do) acupuncture ethics require referral in all but the most minor of conditions. It’s not uncommon for an acupuncturist to be the person to convince someone with a fear or dislike of doctors to get a necessary exam. There is no evidence to sustain the idea that people are being harmed by delayed treatment, that myth needs to be put to rest.

There is no deception involved because acupuncture does work, many studies show that even though most studies aren’t set up to mimic real clinical practice, that is a big problem because it they end up proving very little, either for or against acupuncture. Some people believe it’s a placebo and nothing more, but that is an opinion, not a fact.