Georgia Board of Chiro. Examiners Endorses Mercy Guidelines

Oklahoma Board Rejects Mercy

By Editorial Staff

At its July 19, 1993 meeting, the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners unanimously adopted a resolution which endorses the Mercy Center Conference Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters.

The resolution was presented by Board President Hewett M. Alden, DC. Board of Examiners member Davis L. Kinney, DC, said the "Mercy Conference Guidelines represent the best effort of our profession to date in validating the various practices and procedures utilized by chiropractors and will be a valuable tool for the board of examiners in documenting appropriate practice guidelines."

Below is the statement of endorsement by the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners:

MOTION TO ENDORSE MERCY CONFERENCE GUIDELINES

The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners endorses the efforts of the participants of the Mercy Conference to establish guidelines for the parameters of practice for the science and art of chiropractic. By endorsement, it is understood that, by consensus, the GBCE recognizes that this document is a living document that will periodically need reviews and subsequent revision.
It should be noted that the GBCE, by endorsement of the spirit of the development of reasonable guidelines for the practice of chiropractic, does not view the findings of the Mercy Conference as a document which specifically dictates a "Standard of Care" or prescription for the day to day chiropractic practice.

While the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards endorsed the Mercy Guidelines on April 11, 1992, this motion makes the Georgia Board the first state licensing to individually endorse the guidelines.

The Oklahoma Decision

Other state licensing boards are currently in the process of reviewing the Mercy Guidelines. The position of the Oklahoma State Board of Chiropractic Examiners on the Mercy Guidelines was stated in a letter from its president, G.D. Snitker, DC, to the Oklahoma Insurance Department:

Dr. Snitker's letter stated: "... numberous (sic) state associations, the association's legal council and ... the National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys, finds that portions of the document would create serious and substantial problems for the chiropractic profession." Dr. Snitker also refers to the ICA's "serious concerns relative to clinical goals and practice concepts of ICA members..." of the Mercy Guidelines.

The board found the Mercy Guidelines: "more restrictive than Section 507 of the rules and regulations of the Oklahoma Board..." and the "limitation of treatment/or diagnostic procedures ... are unreasonable and not in accordance with the provisions of law and/or rules of the board."

In conclusion, Dr. Snitker states: the Oklahoma Board "does not accept, endorse, approve or otherwise sanction the document produced by the Mercy Center Conference."