BRAZILIAN REGISTER OF OSTEOPATHs - R.Br.O.

GOALS

Following the guidelines established by similar voluntary institutions in countries like England, France, United States, Belgium, New Zealand and Australia, one of the main goals of the R.Br.O. is to register as an Osteopath D.O. the professionals entitled to such right according to consensus based criteria. Other objectives are:

- To advocate for the title of Osteopath;

- To represent the professionals and members of the Register in their ethical and deontological conduct, in the country and abroad;

- To assemble and register the Osteopaths in Brazil, respecting the principles of education, morality, training and professional practice defined by the Register;

- To promote ethical reflection, respecting the Code of Ethics of the profession, created in Brazil in 2006, and define the qualities required of its members, specially the respect for patients and their safety;

- To impose the sanctions set out in the rules of procedure of the association in case of breach of the Brazilian Code of Ethics and of the requisites for the practice of Osteopathy in the country;

- To create and maintain professional relationship with similar foreign institutions

HISTORY

The foundation of R.Br.O. is a milestone in the development and growth of Osteopathy in Brazil.

Despite the non-regulation of the profession in the country, the Registro Brasileiro dos Osteopatas supports the Osteopaths and those under osteopathic treatment, the patients, who can get information about the professionals in R.Br.O.

It is noteworthy that in Brazil, as in other countries, a register was created while at the same time the professionals make essential moves towards the achievement of the regulation of the profession.

Historically, the teaching of Osteopathy and the foundation of the Register have gone through several stages; in all countries there is a constant: a political struggle for the regulation of the profession; from the achievements conquered in each nation results the full exercise of Osteopathy.

In France, the Registre des Ostéopathes (Register of Osteopaths) was created in 1981; in New Zealand, in 1970.

In the United States - the birthplace of Osteopathy, the first school was created by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1892 - several schools train Osteopaths, whose representative body is the "AOA" (American Osteopathic Association), although osteopaths are license to practice by individual state law.

In Australia, the regulation of the profession has been happening in almost all states since 1992. The courses are recognized and the schools award a degree of "Bachelor of Clinical Science and Master of Health Science Osteopathy" after five years of studies.

In the UK, Osteopathy benefited from the "Osteopath's Act, signed by the Queen on July, 1st, 1993.

On May 29, 1997, the European Parliament adopted a resolution concerning the exercise of non-conventional medicine, including Osteopathy. So, in Europe, it´s up to each profession to organize itself.

On July 15th, 1988, the Sociedade Brasileira de Osteopatia (Brazilian Society of Osteopathy) was founded in Rio de Janeiro.

In Brazil, Osteopathy has been taught for more than twenty years, and has been spread in several states. From an academic point of view, however, many schools do not follow the standard of minimal credit hours and the educational criteria adopted by most of the entities recognized by the registers around the world ; their students may not apply for registration as they do not meet the requirements of R.Br.O.