The Best Remedy?
Remedy magazine recently published a negative article about the chiropractic profession (see "Report of My Findings," 1/27/97 issue of DC). Although some chiropractors responded calmly to this negative article, other DCs felt incited and infuriated enough to write blistering letters to the publication. Those letters are mentioned by Remedy Editor-in-Chief Valorie G. Weaver, in her response to a letter from National College of Chiropractic President James Winterstein, DC. Ms. Weaver writes:
"Regarding your recent letter concerning Remedy's feature on chiropractors ("What Chiropractors Are Really, Really Good At ..."), it was one of about 10 that we received (as well as two phone calls). Some were thoughtful, some furious; some attacked the article in general, others attacked various factions in chiropractic (these came from both sides). As a group, they made for lively, provocative reading."
After reading a negative article about the profession, it's good advice to take a few minutes to calm down, put things in perspective, and then work on a response which is documented with research and studies; that is factual and thoughtful, rather than attack-oriented or provoking. (For constructive tips on writing to the media, see Dr. Sportelli's article, "Why Writers Don't Write about Chiropractic," in the 2-24-97 issue of DC.)
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
On Feb. 1, 2024, two more legislators – John R. Carter (R-Texas) and Robert “Bob” Good (R-Va.) – co-sponsored the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023, bringing the co-sponsor total to 155, two more than the total achieved over the entire two-year congressional cycle in which identical legislation last appeared (2021-22).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
