World Chiropractic Alliance

Last updated

The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) is a not-for-profit corporation founded in Arizona in 1989 that serves as the voice of conservative "straight" chiropractors (those who rely exclusively on subluxation-correction). [1]

Contents

The Alliance claims to be "the only major chiropractic organization which passionately defends the rights of subluxation-based doctors and will stand up against those who would corrupt chiropractic by denying its philosophical and vitalistic foundations," [2] and believes that spinal adjustment should begin at birth and continue for life, [3] even in the absence of symptoms. [4] It tends to have an antagonistic relationship to the World Federation of Chiropractic because of philosophical differences.

Background

The WCA supports doctors and patients of chiropractic, with its emphasis on subluxation-correction, drug-free care, and other non-medical approaches to wellness. This stance has brought chiropractic into a closer ralationship with mainstream medicine alongside the traditional chiropractic adjustments. [5] The WCA denies that chiropractic adjustments pose any significant risk of stroke. [6] The WCA supports the consumers right to know as much information about the possible dangers of vaccines so they can make an informed choice about if they want to get jabbed. vaccinations and believes that "chiropractic adjustments have a positive impact on the immune system," by building natural immunity.

The WCA advocates the use of chiropractic adjustments "for asymptomatic patients":

"It is the position of the World Chiropractic Alliance that chiropractic care to detect and correct subluxations offers benefits for all people, including those who do not demonstrate symptoms of a disease or other health conditions. Therefore, the presence of symptoms and/or a medical diagnosis should not be a factor in determining the need for or appropriateness of chiropractic adjustments, nor should the presence of symptoms be required by any chiropractic board, insurance company or court of law to justify the rendering of chiropractic care to any patient." [4]

In 2002, the WCA was represented by Leona Marie Fischer, member of the WCA International Board of Governors, on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs "Chiropractic Advisory Committee." [7] [8] [9]

Structure

Membership

Membership is open to all chiropractic doctors and students. A board of governors formulates policy and administers the running of the organization. [10]

Leadership

The WCA was founded by Terry Rondberg, DC, who still serves as CEO. [11] Also serving in leadership positions are: [11]

The WCA relies on the assistance of an "International Board of Governors" to help formulate and promulgate its policies and positions, but declines to name them. [12]

Antagonistic relationship to the World Federation of Chiropractic

The WCA's philosophy differs from that of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). It has challenged the WFC's authority "to define chiropractic identity" or "to speak for the chiropractic profession." [13] Rondberg has stated that "subluxation-based doctors of chiropractic being subjected to extreme prejudice in many nations. . . Groups such as the World Federation of Chiropractic have tried repeatedly to define chiropractic as a quasi-medical musculoskeletal treatment in these nations, and the WCA has had to vigorously defend against their actions." [14]

Lobbying, AzScam scandal, and patient solicitation scheme

The WCA apparently was involved as a lobbying group until 2006, [15] but that appears to have stopped in the past few years.

In 1991, the WCA lobbyist was involved in the AzScam scandal and was arrested "for bribery and for . . . laundering large contributions through a list of individuals . . . [including] Rondberg, his wife, and other WCA principals. . ." [16] Rondberg, his wife, and other WCA officials were implicated in this illegal political contribution affair. By 1993, both founders of the WCA were defendants in the "AzScam" case. [17] Both Rondberg and Immerman signed agreements with the Maricopa County Attorney's office admitting to civil charges of illegal contributions. Immerman was required to pay a fine of $11,160 and Rondberg was required to pay a fine of $9,840.

Many years later, Immerman responded in WCA's April, 2001 edition of "The Chiropractic Journal" [18] to the negative publicity of the incident published by Dynamic Chiropractic in 1992. [19]

They were also involved in a "patient solicitation scheme known as the Vertebral Subluxation Research Institute (VSRI)" which Dynamic Chiropractic described as "almost universally condemned as teaching illegal and unethical practices within the chiropractic profession. . ." [16] [20] [21] [22] "VSRI taught chiropractors how to recruit 'research volunteers' and convert them into lifetime chiropractic patients. Its chiropractor clients were instructed to use telemarketing and other approaches to ask people to volunteer for a nationwide study on spinal conditions. . . . The VSRI program was concluded in 1991." [23]

Self-awareness as a persecuted group

The WCA clearly describes the points of view of their presumed enemies in their fundraising:

Join the fight to save chiropractic from our enemies
Powerful forces within and without the profession are trying to destroy chiropractic. Our enemies are taking to the streets, the media and even the internet to stop you from providing uniquely chiropractic care. They say chiropractic is dangerous ... that it's quackery ... that it should never be used for children ... that it should be limited to back pain ... that anything over 6-12 visits is fraud ... that subluxations don't really exist!
We have to STOP THE LIARS NOW. Help us help you to save our profession and our right to care for all people! [24]

In June 2003, the WCA joined forces with the American Chiropractic Association in attacks on what they termed "biased" media coverage of a report in the journal Neurology which wrote about the "dangers of chiropractic neck adjustment." [25]

In May 2006, in response to signs on the sides of some buses in two Connecticut cities which solicited contact from people who might have been injured by chiropractic treatment, the WCA's attorneys "issued a cease and desist warning letter demanding the signs be immediately removed." The signs were sponsored by the "Chiropractic Stroke Victims Awareness Group.” [26] After this (June 2006) they formed a chiropractic "anti-defamation campaign," with aggressive retaliation tactics clearly described. [27]

Related Research Articles

Chiropractic Form of pseudoscientific alternative medicine

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the spine. It has esoteric origins and is based on several pseudoscientific ideas.

Vertebral subluxation Chiropractic concept

In the pseudoscientific alternative medicine chiropractic, a vertebral subluxation means pressure on nerves, abnormal functions creating a lesion in some portion of the body, either in its action, or makeup, not necessarily visible on X-rays.

Wilk v. American Medical Association, 895 F.2d 352, was a federal antitrust suit brought against the American Medical Association (AMA) and 10 co-defendants by chiropractor Chester A. Wilk, DC, and four co-plaintiffs. It resulted in a ruling against the AMA.

Spinal adjustment

Spinal adjustment and chiropractic adjustment are terms used by chiropractors to describe their approaches to spinal manipulation, as well as some osteopaths, who use the term adjustment.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, Virginia, represents doctors of chiropractic. Its mission is to inspire and empower its members to elevate the health and wellness of their communities.

The National Association for Chiropractic Medicine (NACM) was a minority chiropractic association founded in 1984 that described itself as a "consumer advocacy association of chiropractors". It openly rejected some of the more controversial aspects of chiropractic, including a basic concept of chiropractic, vertebral subluxations as the cause of all diseases. It also sought to "reform the chiropractic profession away from a philosophical scope of practice and towards an applied science scope of practice." It stated that it was "dedicated to bringing the scientific based practice of chiropractic into mainstream medicine" and that its members "confine their scope of practice to scientific parameters and seek to make legitimate the utilization of professional manipulative procedures in mainstream health care delivery." "While the NACM is focused on furthering the profession, its primary focus is on the rights and safety of the consumers." The NACM was the object of much controversy and criticism from the rest of the profession. It quietly dropped out of sight and its demise apparently occurred sometime between May 30, 2008 and March 6, 2010.

Chiropractic education trains students in chiropractic. The entry criteria, structure, teaching methodology and nature of chiropractic programs offered at chiropractic schools vary considerably around the world. Students are trained in academic areas including scopes of practice, neurology, radiology, microbiology, psychology, ethics, biology, gross anatomy, biochemistry, spinal anatomy and more. Prospective students are also usually trained in clinical nutrition, public health, pediatrics and other health or wellness related areas.

History of chiropractic History of chiropractic

The history of chiropractic began in 1895 when Daniel David Palmer of Iowa performed the first chiropractic adjustment on a partially deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard. While Lillard was working without his shirt on in Palmer's office, Lillard bent over to empty the trash can. Palmer noticed that Lillard had a vertebra out of position. He asked Lillard what happened, and Lillard replied, "I moved the wrong way, and I heard a 'pop' in my back, and that's when I lost my hearing." Palmer, who was also involved in many other natural healing philosophies, had Lillard lie face down on the floor and proceeded with the adjustment. The next day, Lillard told Palmer, "I can hear that rackets on the streets." This experience led Palmer to open a school of chiropractic two years later. Rev. Samel Weed coined the word "chiropractic" from Greek root. Chiropractic's early philosophy was rooted in vitalism, naturalism, magnetism, spiritualism and other constructs that are not amenable to the scientific method, although Palmer tried to merge science and metaphysics. In 1896, Palmer's first descriptions and underlying philosophy of chiropractic echoed Andrew Still's principles of osteopathy established a decade earlier. Both described the body as a "machine" whose parts could be manipulated to produce a drugless cure. Both professed the use of spinal manipulation on joint dysfunction/subluxation to improved health. Palmer distinguished his work by noting that he was the first to use short-lever HVLA manipulative techniques using the spinous process and transverse processes as mechanical levers. He described the effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation as being mediated primarily by the nervous system.

Chiropractors use their version of spinal manipulation as their primary treatment method, with non-chiropractic use of spinal manipulation gaining more study and attention in mainstream medicine in the 1980s. There is no evidence that chiropractic spinal adjustments are effective for any medical condition, with the possible exception of treatment for lower back pain. The safety of manipulation, particularly on the cervical spine has been debated. Adverse results, including strokes and deaths, are rare.

Throughout its history chiropractic has been the subject of internal and external controversy and criticism. According to magnetic healer Daniel D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, "vertebral subluxation" was the sole cause of all diseases and manipulation was the cure for all disease. A 2003 profession-wide survey found "most chiropractors still hold views of Innate Intelligence and of the cause and cure of disease consistent with those of the Palmers". A critical evaluation stated "Chiropractic is rooted in mystical concepts. This led to an internal conflict within the chiropractic profession, which continues today." Chiropractors, including D.D. Palmer, were jailed for practicing medicine without a license. D.D. Palmer considered establishing chiropractic as a religion to resolve this problem. For most of its existence, chiropractic has battled with mainstream medicine, sustained by antiscientific and pseudoscientific ideas such as subluxation.

Sherman College of Chiropractic

Sherman College of Chiropractic is a private graduate college focused on the health sciences and located in unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with a Boiling Springs postal address; it is outside of the Boiling Springs census-designated place. It was founded in 1973 and named after chiropractor Lyle Sherman. Sherman College offers the doctor of chiropractic degree. The college is home to approximately 450 students representing 42 states and 13 countries and has more than 3,000 alumni around the world. Sherman college supports the "straight" vertebral subluxation-based focus as different from diagnosis and symptomatic treatment focus of "mixed" U.S. chiropractic schools. The name of the college was changed to Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic the late 1970s, but changed back to the original name in 2009. Sherman College also has digital x-ray services in the Health Center for use of interns and local chiropractors.

World Federation of Chiropractic

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) is an international consulting body representing chiropractic to the international health care community.

International Chiropractors Association

The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) was founded by B.J. Palmer in 1926 in Davenport, Iowa, US. Palmer served as it President until his death in 1961.

Daniel David Palmer Founder of Chiropractic

Daniel David Palmer or D.D. Palmer was a Canadian American chiropractor who was the founder of chiropractic. Palmer was born in Port Perry, Ontario, but emigrated to the United States. He was also an avid proponent of various other forms of pseudoscientific alternative medicine such as magnetic healing. Palmer opposed anything he thought to be associated with mainstream medicine such as vaccination.

Various organizations of practicing chiropractors have outlined formal codes of professional ethics. Actual practice has revealed a wide range of behaviors which may or may not conform to these standards.

Tedd Koren is a chiropractor who created the Koren Specific Technique (KST) around 2004. Koren said he originated KST after practicing on himself to relieve his own pain. Koren wrote on his website that "KST is an analysis protocol not a chiropractic technique." He resides in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.

Clarence Selmer Gonstead was a chiropractor and the creator of the Gonstead technique. He established a large chiropractic facility in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

Anti-vaccinationism in chiropractic is widespread, as is the case for most forms of alternative medicine, but there are notable differences within the trade. Chiropractic is an alternative medicine founded on the idea that all disease is caused by disruption of the flow of "innate" in the spine, by so-called vertebral subluxations – a pseudoscientific concept. Over time chiropractic has divided into "straights" who adhere to the subluxation theory and "mixers" who adhere more closely to a reality-based view of anatomy. "Straight" chiropractors are very likely to be anti-vaccination, but all chiropractic training tends to reduce acceptance of vaccines.


The Webster Technique is a method within the field of chiropractic that proponents claim can assist in rotating a breech baby. The scientific studies on this technique are minimal in number and weak in conclusion, such that some chiropractic colleges and regulatory groups disallow their members from advertising the technique at all.

References

  1. Hadler, Nortin M. (2009). Stabbed in the Back: Confronting Back Pain in an Overtreated Society . University of North Carolina Press. pp.  66–67. ISBN   9780807833483.
  2. "Purpose & Overview: Protecting and Promoting the Principles of Chiropractic". World Chiropractic Alliance. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  3. Homola, Samuel (2001). "Is the Chiropractic Subluxation Theory a Threat to Public Health?". Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine . 5 (1): 45–53.
  4. 1 2 Position paper on chiropractic for asymptomatic patients. WCA
  5. Cooper, R. A.; McKee, H. J. (2003). "Chiropractic in the United States: Trends and Issues". Milbank Quarterly . 81 (1): 107–138, table 138 contents. doi:10.1111/1468-0009.00040. PMC   2690192 . PMID   12669653.
  6. Benedetti, MacPhail. Spin Doctors: The Chiropractic Industry Under Examination, p. 125
  7. VA Appoints Chiropractic Advisory Committee. United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Press Release. August 12, 2002
  8. WCA board member picked for VA advisory committee. WCA
  9. Southerland, Randy. Finding The Right Care For Veterans. Today's Chiropractic, November/December, 2002
  10. "International Board of Governors". World Chiropractic Alliance. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Board of Directors". World Chiropractic Alliance. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  12. "International Board of Governors". World Chiropractic Alliance. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  13. WCA declines to participate on WFC identity committee. Chiropractic Economics, Oct. 2003
  14. WCA corrects Dynamic Chiropractic report error. WCA
  15. Annual Lobbying by World Chiropractic Alliance. OpenSecrets.org, Center for Responsive Politics
  16. 1 2 Michael J. Schroeder, Esq. The Silence Is Deafening. Dynamic Chiropractic , July 19, 1991, Vol. 09, Issue 15
  17. AzScam's Bombshell. Phoenix New Times, 03/17/1993
  18. "A Perennial Bad Actor", The Chiropractic Journal, April, 2001 (Accessed on the Internet Archive on June 14, 2011, whereafter it has been deleted, but one can catch a glimpse of the original article.)
  19. Editorial Staff. What's in it for me? Dynamic Chiropractic, Vol. 10, Issue 24, November 20, 1992
  20. Editorial Staff. VSRI Under Investigation by California Attorney General. Dynamic Chiropractic , August 29, 1990, Vol. 08, Issue 18
  21. Donald Petersen, Editor. Pure Coincidence or an Attempt at a Clean Getaway? Dynamic Chiropractic , April 12, 1991, Vol. 09, Issue 08
  22. Perle, Stephen; Schneider, Michael. The Ethics of Research, aka Marketing. Dynamic Chiropractic , June 20, 2006, Vol. 24, Issue 13
  23. Stephen Barrett. Subluxation: Chiropractic's Elusive Buzzword. Chirobase
  24. Donation page to "save chiropractic from our enemies." WCA
  25. ACA, WCA blast media for ‘biased’ coverage of journal report. Chiropractic Economics, June 2003
  26. WCA demands removal of anti-chiropractic ads. Chiropractic Economics, May 2006
  27. WCA forms anti-defamation campaign. Chiropractic Economics, June 2006