Confessions of a Quackbuster

This blog deals with healthcare consumer protection, and is therefore about quackery, healthfraud, chiropractic, and other forms of so-Called "Alternative" Medicine (sCAM).

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Chiropractic position statement (portion)

Portion of old chiropractic position statement:

I still support all attempts to reform the profession, but I also think that it is ultimately futile effort. What such reform attempts can do positively is to make the public and susceptible chiropractors and students aware of the dangers and pitfalls. Attempts at reform should be seen as a rescue mission, not for the profession, but for those in danger of being tricked into accepting it.


Revised version:

I have long stated that I "support all attempts to reform" chiropractic, but that statement has often been considered confusing, in light of the rest of the original sentence -"but I also think that it is ultimately futile effort."

I can understand the confusion, and I hope the following statement will be less confusing.

I support all chiropractors who see themselves as reformers, in their efforts to expose and correct the obviously serious defects and problems in chiropractic. I also hope that they are making plans to get into other fields of endeavor where their talents and effots will be more valued and appreciated. To them, chiropractic is like a ball and chain, and they will always be like a lonely goldfish in an aquarium filled with piranhas. Their efforts will always be combatted by many of their own colleagues, and even if they were to succeed, it would only be a small dent in a huge ship that will keep plowing full speed ahead.

Even if chiropractic were to be purified and cleaned up, what would then be left that was legitimate wouldn't be enough in quantity, value or uniqueness to legitimize the existence of a whole separate profession. The only area where they could have any possibility of providing a service as skilled technicians, would be as spinal manipulators. The only problem is that the real need for this service is very limited, and that skill can easily be learned and added to the existing Physical Therapy profession. In fact, it already is in many countries.

What such reform attempts can do positively is to make the public and susceptible chiropractors and students aware of the dangers and pitfalls. Attempts at reform should be seen as a rescue mission, not for the profession, but for those in danger of being tricked into accepting it.

Since the profession is illegitimate, it should be eliminated and reform-minded chiropractors should seek other pastures.




(This is a work in progress....)

For the rest:

Chiropractic Position Statement & Disclaimer