Constitution
Currently The Acupuncture Hospital works under Dr Keown’s company The Originalmedicine Ltd. Eventually the plan is to turn it into a community asset, a charity if you like, with the following constitution. There is no set date for this though.
The Constitution of The Acupuncture Hospital (Draft)
The Acupuncture Hospital (henceforth known as ‘The Hospital’) exists for the sole purpose of returning patients to functioning society. To this end it provides facilities for any helpful medical procedure. ‘Helpful’ is defined by patient demand and ethical concerns (see below).
The primary method The Hospital uses to improve patient health is acupuncture. All patients coming to the hospital should be expected to have, and expect to be given, acupuncture. If necessary, this should be free.
The Hospital is governed by Associates.
Associates are formed by graduation from the official hospital training program - the SSOMA course.
Associates are responsible for the ethical running of the hospital. In exchange they have visiting rights which means they pay no rent for the practice of acupuncture. Associates are expected to provide an open and learning environment for students.
Students are currently exclusively admitted through the SSOMA course.
The Founder and President, Dr Dan Keown, is ultimately responsible for the hospital until one of these three conditions is met:
The number of Associates passes 100 wherein he can be replaced with a 2/3rds majority.
He dies or becomes incapacitated in which case a new president is elected by associates on a simple majority.
He retires in which case a new president is elected by associates on a simple majority.
The President is responsible for allocating any accrued funds (from patient contributions or donations) to a responsible third party to run the hospital. Once the conditions above have been met, this last action will have to be passed by a majority of Associates.