Critical views of chiropractic: Difference between revisions

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'''Critical views of Chiropractic'''
'''Critical views of Chiropractic'''


In its 100-year history chiropractic has been under frequent attack from  osteopathy, from conventional medicine, from scientists critical of its scientific foundations, and recently from web-based critics of its advertising tactics and of the extravagent claims and dubious practices of some DCs. <ref>'''Skeptics:'''
In its 100-year history chiropractic has been under frequent attack from  osteopathy, from conventional medicine, from scientists critical of its scientific foundations, and recently from web-based critics of its advertising tactics and of the extravagent claims and dubious practices of some DCs. Although the profession has survived, and indeed thrived, the profession itself has voiced many of these criticisms in a move to reform chiropractic from within. Examples include:
:[http://www.pbs.org/saf/1210/index.html A Different Way To Heal?] - [[PBS]] [[Scientific American Frontiers]] Web Feature
:Chirobase: [[Stephen Barrett]] and Samuel Homola [http://www.chirobase.org/''Skeptical guide ''] ''to chiropractic history, theories, and current practices''
:Novella S (1997) ''Chiropractic: Flagship of the Alternative Medicine Fleet'' [http://www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=4  Part One] and [http://www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=5 Part Two]</ref> Although the profession has survived, and indeed thrived, the profession itself has voiced many of these criticisms in a move to reform chiropractic from within. Examples include:


* [http://jmmtonline.com/documents/HomolaV14N2E.pdf Can Chiropractors and Evidence-Based Manual Therapists Work Together? An Opinion From a Veteran Chiropractor]
* [http://jmmtonline.com/documents/HomolaV14N2E.pdf Can Chiropractors and Evidence-Based Manual Therapists Work Together? An Opinion From a Veteran Chiropractor]

Revision as of 08:51, 15 December 2006

Critical views of Chiropractic

In its 100-year history chiropractic has been under frequent attack from osteopathy, from conventional medicine, from scientists critical of its scientific foundations, and recently from web-based critics of its advertising tactics and of the extravagent claims and dubious practices of some DCs. Although the profession has survived, and indeed thrived, the profession itself has voiced many of these criticisms in a move to reform chiropractic from within. Examples include:

Samuel Homola DC, an outspoken dissident within the profession, expresses his opinion that evidence-based chiropractic is the only way forward.
This book, published in 1964, contains trenchant criticism of the profession, and the following year Homola's application to renew his membership of the ACA was rejected. In 1991, David Redding, chairman of the ACA board of governors, welcomed Homola back to the ACA. In 1994, 30 years after its publication, the book was reviewed for the first time by a chiropractic journal. [1]
JC Smith DC writes in 1999 that ethical issues are "in dire need of debate" because of "years of intense medical misinformation/slander" and because of well-publicised examples of tacky advertising, outlandish claims, sensationalism and insurance fraud.
Joseph Keating, professor at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and historian of chiropractic, warns of pseudoscientific notions still held by some DCs
Keating critically distinguishes between sound and unsound arguments in support of chiropractic
Christopher Kent, president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice, advises his colleagues of the importance of high standards of evidence, noting that in the past DCs were too ready to accept anecdotal evidence
A 1992 letter from ACA attorney George McAndrews warns the chiropractic profession that 'scare tactic' advertising damages the newly won respect within the AMA.
A 1991 editorial from Dynamic Chiropractic where Keating discusses his concerns for advertising products before they are scientifically evaluated.
A 2000 commentary by Ronald Carter, Past President of the Canadian Chiropractic Association discussing his opinion that the subluxation story, regardless of how it is packaged, is not the answer. He suggests it is time for the 'silent majority' to present a rational model of chiropractic so that it can become an essential member of the health care team.

References