Thread by @WeDietitians

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Hey JK, I’ve been thinking about your “We” verifications through the thread.

Maybe the Australian experience is different - so I’m going to write some stuff, up for teasing out, anyone can chime in - and maybe state your country as you do?

......

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Australia has a total membership of ~6,000 in its dietetic association, DAA. There’s only one professional association, who also cover our professional registration (including course accred and complaints & disciplinary).

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Legally, the DAA cannot make membership to the DAA mandatory for getting the “APD” credential. Which the DAA do comply with. It’s a fine line though - APD is what is needed to get insurance rebates for patients, APD is needed to lecture in dietetics (course accred’n requires it)

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink APD is needed to supervise students...to be on DAA committees....etc

Now, for ~$800/yr dietitians can choose to be a DAA member - no APD or can be APD but not DAA member, or take both DAA and APD. Any of these combinations are same price.

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink As APD is the credential linked to earning capacity & career choice, APD is first choice. But choose APD only, (as stated earlier) you pay full price for CPD with DAA, can’t be part of groups etc etc ....now while that’s reasonable from a “separation of services” perspective ..

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink And, it is, what I’m pointing out is, legally DAA-APD separation is achieved, but practically and fibancially, there really is no choice but to be a DAA member as well as APD. And maybe that’s not such a big deal...

Except...

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Until ~2017, the CEO of DAA was the first contact & primary investigator of all complaints about dietitians. So what? Well, it means there was no separation of power of APD & DAA. And, one person had all unchecked power on “discipline” across the country

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Today, there is separation of power, but pricing is same.

Here’s the “We” bit.

Australian dietitians are heavily disadvantaged by choosing not to be a DAA member bc if the pricing structure. Legally the set up ticks the box but practically, there’s no choice for dietitians

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink When DAA run public campaigns, make media statements, decide what is a fad....if you’re a DAA member, when you pay your fees, you do, by virtue of payment, support the messages and the outcome.

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink The DAA spokesperson program too is “dietitians public voice” but the spokesperson program is not “voted in” positions...they’re taps on the shoulder/applied for - and, as we now know, were likely a bargaining card for the DAA with their corporate sponsors (till COB 2018)

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink AFAIK our [pseudo]-separation of powers & pricing is different for UK, US, Canada - so it’s possible the “We” isn’t as obvious (also, there are far more dietitians than 6,000 in those nations - ours is also bottom heavy - students, new grads, <5y out)

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Here’s the other thing about “we”. The highest users of the complaints and disciplinary process are dietitians complaining about dietitians.

DAA also use legal action, which, I don’t believe is adequately disclosed to members, in these complaints, appeals, ongoing...

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Summary

1. When dietitians pay membership fees they sign up to all these behaviors, the bylaws, the media releases, the shutting down of discussion

In dietitians’ defense, I think we’ve just had at least a decade of filtered info - ergo limited informed consent

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink 2. What the DAA does reflects on the majority of dietitians in Australia, & as the DAA is accountable only to its members, it’s reasonable the public appeal to individual dietitians to “ask for better”.

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink This is the “We”.

Outside DAA too, for example, the FB group BBPE, started by a prominent dietitian (w others), and so many dietitians joined in....dietitians I thought were smarter than “that”. The disdain for paleo/LC/keto that permeated discussion, labels & jibes....

@lchfRD @mrc314 @wmakkink Sure, there’s less of a public pile-on now ....but then we still have our most prominent dietitians at the policy table, in academic platforms, social media....same message ADG or bust (now EAT or combust) ....

& hopefully the changes to complaints process gives better outcomes