Lesley Fleming: Licenses protect consumers

Regarding the April 13 Point of View “Propping open a door to jobs” by Anna Beavon Gravely of Generation Opportunity, bemoaning the inconvenience of occupational licenses in North Carolina as an insurmountable hurdle for young people:

These minimal standards are here to protect the public from those who would take shortcuts for financial gain. Licenses offer the general public a test of minimal competence.

The examples she chose to showcase were that of a personal trainer and a sign language interpreter. What harm can a personal trainer do? How about near death?

One of my good friends in her 40s hired a personal trainer at the gym who pushed her too hard for her age and abilities. Fortunately, she immediately went to her doctor, who had her rushed to the ER with Rhabdomyolysis before her heart and kidneys shut down. This was a $5,000 co-pay lesson for my friend. Personal trainers need more stringent licensing, not less.

Since not everyone is a fit 20-year-old Marine preparing to be a Navy Seal, they should have some knowledge of medical issues related to aging and predispositions to injury.

Recall the recent scandal at Nelson Mandela’s funeral involving the fake sign language interpreter. Is this really what we want?

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Lesley Fleming: Licenses protect consumers."