Diane Barnes wrote:

"Licensing laws are usually requested, not by consumers
complaining about the quality of service, but by the
professionals themselves.  Physicians were one of the very
professions to do this. Setting High standards for those who
were already in the profession and denying approval to
practitioners who use different techniques from theirs.
(Remember what physicians did to
Chiropractors? or should I say tried to do?) "

In my LC life I have been denied employment status equal to
RN's and MD's for exactly this reason. The standard in some
facilities is that "only licensed providers" can be
accommodated as staff. This may be state (or county)
mandated in some areas, as well. While I don't want to play
political games only for my own gain, I would like to gain!

Chiropractors have had to establish themselves independent
of "main stream" medical facilities (is this correct? It is where
I live.) At this point, however, many LCs have been
"accepted" by "main stream" facilities. How do we play ball
on this field, given the licensing "tradition"?  (My thinking on
this goes back-and-forth.)

Where did you find the studies you cite (about licensing
leading to unsafe practices?) Those are important references
for us to have as we weigh in on this issue.

Margery Wilson, IBCLC