Manitoba Chiropractors Association Cracks Down on Claims

According to a report by CBC News, the Executive Director of the Manitoba Chiropractors Association, Lisa Goss, stated that the MCA developed a quarterly process for reviewing its members' websites to ensure their content meets standards. CBC News claims to have done an "investigation" of chiropractors websites last year and found claims to be able to cure cancer and autism. According to Goss, the MCA undertook a review of the websites containing out-of-scope content and told their members to remove it.

There are about 275 chiropractors in Manitoba and they only found five chiropractors that needed to make changes.

According to the CBC they found questionable online content for more than 30 chiropractic offices.

But apparently that's all the warning Manitoba chiropractors are going to get since according to Goss any more non compliance that is found will "move into the complaints process".

According to CBC they found chiropractors making unfounded claims for autism, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. And CBC also alleges chiropractors were "discouraging people from getting vaccines or diagnostic tests such as CT scans, colonoscopies and mammograms".

The MCA published a statement last May making it clear that any advice on vaccination is not within the scope of chiropractic practice.

CLICK HERE to read that statement

"The MCA directs its members to not provide advice on the topic of vaccination and immunization," the statement said referring them to public health professionals.

"Appropriate sources for patient consultation regarding vaccination and immunization are public health professionals for whom vaccination and immunization is within their scope of practice."

The MCA released a Directive in December 2017 making it clear that communciating anything outside the scope would result in them being subjected to the complaints process.

The Directive states in part:

If you communicate on topics that are outside the chiropractic scope you must:

a) Advise the patient that the topic is outside the chiropractic scope of practice and that the patient should consult with a health professional who has the act within his/her scope of practice;
b) Not respond with advice, opinions, or recommendations on the topic. Members may respond in a professional, accurate and balanced manner in the context of providing primary healthcare to the patient which is consistent with the chiropractic scope of practice; and
c) Encourage the patient to be an active participant in their own health and to make fully informed decisions concerning their care.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE DIRECTIVE

The practice of chiropractic in Manitoba is defined as:

a) Any professional service usually performed by a chiropractor, including the examination and treatment, principally by hand and without the use of drugs or surgery, of the spinal column, pelvis, and extremities and associated soft tissue; and
b) Such other services as may be approved by the regulations.

Clearly Manitoba is at odds with much of the worldwide chiropractic educational and licensing system since all institutions are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) or its international arm. The CCE is part of a Cartel enjoying a monopoly on the educational and licensing functions of the entire profession. According th the CCE Standards, the CCE and its accredited institutions train chiropractors as primary health care providers.

According to Goss "As a regulatory body, protecting the public is our number one responsibility,"