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ISSUE 5 June 2, 2012
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| Greetings! |
 Welcome to the fifth edition of the "ICA In Action" newsletter. The previous edition generated more e-mail responses than all previous editions combined. To those who took the time to share your thoughts and ideas, I sincerely express my appreciation. Look for a discussion on the many points made on both sides of the drug discussion in future "e-mails to the editor columns". The responses begin in this issue. The controversy over the letter from CCE to Dr. Ochoa continues to escalate. Within a matter of hours following the release of the last edition of ICA In Action, a fifteen thousand word response, over 30 pages long, was circulated to the chiropractic profession. The editorial was apparently posted on the web at www.aacp.net on May 8. I will offer a few comments on the "Truth About CCE". It seems that the "spin machines" are working overtime. On May 15, 2012 I sent my personal letter to Dr. Ochoa which addresses the negative "spin" aimed at the ICA by the CCE. I will then report on the recent meeting in Atlanta, Georgia of the representatives of a large cross section of our profession. Approximately 50 leaders, representing 30 different organizations, met in the Da Vinci conference room of the Marriott Renaissance Hotel on May 19, 2012. Many viewed it as an historic event that will help shape the future of chiropractic education for years to come. Time will tell. Finally, I would like to offer my public apologies to Dr. Sportelli and the FCLB. The posting of my private video of Dr. Sportelli's remarks at the FCLB Annual meeting has apparently caused some confusion and concern. Please note that neither the FCLB nor Dr. Sportelli were aware of my efforts in advance, and for the record, Dr. Sportelli did NOT mention the New Mexico situation in his remarks.
Every two to three weeks I will continue to inform, educate and assure you that the ICA is working on your behalf to "Advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science and art."
As the ICA continues to increase its involvement in state, national and international events I hope to keep you informed as to the "what, where and whys" behind the ICA actions. I look forward to your feedback. Dr. Steve Welsh Secretary/Treasurer ICA |
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 CCE Does It Again!
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 CCE has done it again! In another public criticism directed at the ICA, the CCE has issued an announcement (click to read) calling the recent actions of the ICA "unfortunate" . CCE, referencing the act of contacting members of congress to address concerns, stated that " ...it finds those actions irresponsible and not in the best interest of the students or in improving the quality of chiropractic education". In yet another indication that the CCE leadership has lost touch with the mainstream chiropractic practitioner, the CCE continues to deny the fact that the dissenting voices of their disenfranchised stakeholders are not just a "small minority" but rather a growing body of individuals and organizations expressing concern that the recent changes to the CCE Standards will have a long term negative impact on the profession. The irony of the situation is that the CCE, while claiming to be " ... improving the quality of chiropractic education", submitted a letter to the Assistant Secretary on December 22, 2011 claiming that the NACIQI request to CCE, ( that they "demonstrate ... how its standards advance the quality of chiropractic education" ) ,was unfair. It seems to me that the only unfortunate circumstance is that the CCE continues to exhibit dysfunctional organizational behavior. |
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ICA Hosts Consensus Conference on CCE and New Standards |
More than 50 chiropractic leaders representing nearly 30 chiropractic groups and organizations gathered in Atlanta, Georgia on May 19, 2012 to discuss their response to recent actions of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). The meeting, initially organized by the International Chiropractors Association was supported by a broad base of groups and individuals including a mix of various reform groups, state associations, societies, technique groups, practice management organizations and other constituencies.
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The conference was facilitated by Dr. Gerard Clum, a former chiropractic college president and former member of the CCE. Click on the video on the right to review the opening comments made at the historic meeting. Click here to access the press release from the newly formed Da Vinci group.
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DaVinci Group Calls for Reform Subluxation: Yes Drugs: No | |
 On May 25, the DaVinci Group released a one page consensus statement calling for reform at CCE. The consensus statements were developed and agreed upon at the consensus conference held on May, 19 in Atlanta, Georgia. The key elements of necessary reform were outlined as follows:
"To be meaningful, CCE reform must include, but not be limited to the following elements:
1) Vertebral subluxation detection and reduction in both symptomatic and a-symptomatic patients must be included in the Standards.
2) Chiropractic must be defined as "without drugs and surgery" in the Standards as the essential element in a curriculum leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
3) Governance must be reformed to include:
A. Mechanisms for Councilor appointment/election that eliminate the current self-sustaining and perpetuating nature of the Council and broaden the base of participation in the elections process.
B. Reforms in the current election processes and procedures to allow for greater autonomy in nomination and voting.
C. An expansion of the Academy of site team members and the opportunity for the program being reviewed to select one person from the Academy as a site team member visiting the institution.
Click here for access to the full consensus statement of the DaVinci Group.
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AACP "... doth protest too much, methinks" Hamlet, Act III, scene II | |
On May 8, 2012 a 15,000 word commentary entitled "The Truth About CCE: What really happened with NACIQI and USDOE" was published on the website of the American Academy of Chiropractic Physicians.
Promoted as an objective article that sums up the issues from multiple viewpoints, the anonymous author struggled to defend the recent actions of the Council on Chiropractic Education.
Reference is made to "... a minority using a contrived nonsensical term 'medicalization of chiropractic' ". This statement comes from a minority group of chiropractic physicians with an organizational motto "Selective Medicalization and Prescriptive Authority". One has to wonder what aspect of that discussion is nonsensical?
The author correctly states that the "... modern concept of chiropractic health care comprises the majority perspective held by American accredited institutions of higher education that offer the doctor of chiropractic degree. It also represents the legal definitions and lawful chiropractic practice scopes that are established by the majority of state licensing statutes and regulations in the United States."
The implication is made that the chiropractors seeking reform of the CCE and opposing the introduction of prescription drugs to the practice of chiropractic are rejecting the current legal definitions and lawful chiropractic practice scopes. It never ceases to amaze me ... the ability of the human mind to rationalize behavior. Many would suggest that it is the CCE that has turned a blind eye to the majority of state statutes. Is it not reasonable to expect that the educational standards of a profession embody the legal definitions that currently exist in the majority of states? Many argue that the new 2012 standards do not.
Probably the most highly controversial, and I would suggest the most blatantly false claim is the following statement: "Fact: The term "subluxation" was not removed from the 2012 CCE Standards." It would seem that verifying the facts would be simple. The term is either in the 2012 standards document or it is not. Please review the 2007 standards. Open the pdf, do a word search on the term subluxation and you will find six occurrences. The term "subluxation" appears twice in the preface, twice in the clinical competencies and twice in the glossary. Next open the pdf for the 2012 standards. The same word search produces zero occurrences. I invite you to check for yourself. Here are links to the PDFs: 2007 Standards 2012 Standards . Once again I repeat ... It never ceases to amaze me ... the ability of the human mind to rationalize behavior.
The author then proceeds to defend the recent actions of the CCE with the claim that "Drugs and surgery are a part of the chiropractic profession and have been for at least 108 years. As difficult as it may be for some to accept this fact, it is nevertheless, true." I will not repeat the convoluted arguments made to support this claim, however, I would like to point out that this assertion seems to contradict the "... legal definitions and lawful chiropractic practice scopes that are established by the majority of state licensing statutes and regulations in the United States."
I have to wonder whether the majority of mainstream chiropractors would agree with the statement that drugs have been part of chiropractic for 108 years! I invite you to read the entire 15,000 word commentary and e-mail me at icainaction@mindspring.com with your thoughts as to whether this version of the truth reflects your reality. After reading the lengthy document it has become apparent that the anonymous author has a fundamental lack of respect for those in the profession who share the mainstream viewpoint that chiropractic has always been and should remain separate and distinct from the practice of medicine. Bottom line: AACP ... doth protest too much, methinks! |
E-mails to the Editor "What is the truth...no spin please" | |
In this issue I will tackle a couple of short e-mails that address the many perspectives of those who have shared their views with the ICA in Action.
One Doctor wrote:
"Dear ICA in Action,
Please kindly move to the side and let me pass. If you don't want to go where I'm going, then okay, but please kindly recognize that you have nothing to lose by allowing me to practice with a broader scope."
DC, Alburqueque, NM
Editor's response:
Dear Doctor;
The ICA has no objection to you practicing with a broader scope than that of some of your colleagues, provided that you practice within the legal limits of the governing statutes in your state. The ICA encourages all practitioners to actively engage in discussions regarding any proposed legislation that would put patient safety at risk by authorizing prescription drug rights without the highest level of medical education standards.
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Another Doctor wrote:
"To fellow colleagues:
I have only been practicing for 5 years now, but in that short amount of time I have seen and experienced the obstacles we face as chiropractors. I could not agree more with Dr. Winterstein in that our profession needs to progress and change to meet the requirements of primary care physicians. The public needs primary care docs now more than ever and it is only getting worse as the population ages. I fully support New Mexico, Alabama, South Carolina, and other states that are pushing for legislation in progressing chiropractic medicine.
Thank you for making this information available to us."
DC, Denver, CO
Editor's Response:
Dear Doctor:
The ICA agrees that the public needs more doctors providing primary care services and that many current discriminatory public policies restrict access to non-MD health care providers. The ICA agrees that DCs are trained physicians that do provide primary care services, however, the ICA does not agree that chiropractors are trained to be "primary care physicians" as commonly defined by most governmental agencies. The ICA does recognize that some DCs have served as PCPs, without drug prescription rights, in certain situations and applaud the contribution they have made to providing patients with an alternative to the traditional MD PCP. The ICA does not support the concept that drug prescription rights are a prerequisite to expanding the role that chiropractors play in the health care system.
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Another Doctor wrote:
"Thank you for your informative newsletter. I grew up in chiropractic with a very politically active father in Missouri which is why I have enjoyed this profession. But you know, the same over dinner discussions have remained the same over the years."
DC, Ellsworth, Maine
Editor's Response:
Dear Doctor:
There is an old French proverb "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" which means the more things change, the more they remain the same. It seems that the same basic, fundamental differences of opinion have existed in the chiropractic profession for well over one hundred years. Unfortunately, while the silent majority focus on caring for their patients, those who are either the most conservative or the most liberal express their views with the most passion and seem to always be conducting the debate. Unfortunately many of these debates have been burdened with false information, caustic rhetoric and mudslinging rather than honest discussion and dialogue. It is my hope that as our profession continues to mature more of these discussions will be elevated to a professional level.
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Another Doctor wrote:
"I watched both videos and since you asked for opinions....
I can see both sides. I went to a very medically based school ... and can understand their frustration. When you are told for 4 years that subluxation doesn't exist, you have to be careful not to hurt people with the adjustment and all the emphasis is on pathology, what is a grad from those schools to do? They have been trained almost like an MD but are helpless to do anything. It's a miserable situation leaving most to question their career but at that point they are in so deep there are few options. Some flipped to medical after graduating from straight schools but probably smaller in number.
Fortunately I found some Reggie Gold tapes, got the big idea and never looked back. Reggie explained it so easily and so simply - something that subluxation based chiropractors don't do well in my opinion. They talk subluxation but it varies depending on the DC and often gets diluted in the anti medicine, anti drug/vaccinations, green book thots and philosophy that is just more than your average person wants or is capable of following. Those of us who graduated from medical schools will never understand the green books and certainly can't base our beliefs on them.
Perhaps a new universal explanation of subluxation is needed, one that is solid medically but covers the complex of restricted motion, possible nerve interference, muscle imbalance and all the rest. I say "possible" nerve interference as it it must be possible to not have nerve interference at times but still restricted motion, muscle imbalance etc? The old foot on the hose is too outdated and it's such an easy target for anybody who is skeptical. Same with the "one cause one cure " mentality. There are clearly multiple causes in life and Reggie would argue that chiropractors don't cure anything, they help the body to function better.
The medical group will always be with us wanting more but I think it's a good start to give them a modern definition they can understand that is so clear and correct it is difficult to argue. They still will fight but why make it so easy for them?
I cast my vote last week when I rejoined the ICA!"
DC, Plainview, NY
Editor's Response:
Dear Doctor:
Thank you for sharing your experince and your insight. All chiropractic colleges accredited by the CCE provide excellent education. Some schools place more emphasis on science, some on philosophy and others on the art. It is the ICAs position that all three are equally important and that graduating students should be educated in the science, skilled in the art and grounded in the philosophy. To promote one at the expense of the other is a dis-service to the student. It is unfortunate that some administrators and instructors, in the name of academic freedom, have chosen to deny some of the fundamental tenets of the profession. Our understanding of the subluxation continues to evolve as more research into the linkage between the nervous system and the immune system is published. The ICA sponsors both Dr. Dan Murphy and James Chestnut who provide seminars that review the extensive literature that supports the existence and the effects of the subluxation. Thank you for your thoughts, and welcome to the ICA.
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Another Doctor wrote:
"Just to record my vote, I feel that there is enough evidence that the body heals itself and does so better with the help of a spinal adjustment as there is in how harmful the use of medicine and medical procedures can be to make it ridiculous for us to venture into anything other than adjusting the spine. Especially at this point in history when people are increasingly aware of how bad drugs are, and how they are searching for a true alternative.
Further, it seems to be nothing other than laziness, fear of contradiction, or lack of confidence in the effectiveness of what chiropractic adjustments do that keeps us from properly educating the public, our patients, our legislators and the rest of the scientific community.
Guy is right--we need to tell everyone WHY we do what we do, and WHY we do that or anything else."
DC, St. Charles, IL.
Editor's Response:
Dear Doctor:
The ICA agrees that there is a growing body of evidence that supports the foundational tenets of chiropractic as outlined by D.D. Palmer over 100 years ago.
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And finally a DC student wrote:
"Hello Dr Welsh!
Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your ICA in action newsletter. The information provided is invaluable and I am always impressed at how much the ICA is doing. Thank you also for writing about the WCCS event - our team put in over a year of planning for the event and we were thrilled to see students inspired to take a stand!
Thanks for all you do :)"
DC Student, Life Chiropractic College West
Editor's Response:
Dear chiropractic student:
The ICA would like to thank all chiropractic students that have decided to actively participate in the politics of the profession while still students. The ICA encourages all students to join the state and national organization of their choice ( preferably the ICA of course ;) , to actively participate while a student and to continue that participation after graduation.
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Once again, I would like to thank the Doctors and students who took the time to share their views. Please submit your questions and/or comments to me at icainaction@mindspring.com. I will try to answer a few in future issues.
Dr. Steve |
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The ICA continues to strive to advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated on its unique philosophy, art and science on a daily basis. I sincerely hope that the "ICA In Action" newsletter will assist you in combating the mis-information campaigns that have begun to proliferate as the ICA continues to increase its efforts to defend chiropractic.
Sincerely,
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Stephen P. Welsh, DC, FICAInternational Chiropractors Association
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