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Canadian Chiropractic Association Says Most Newborns Don't Need Spinal Adjustments - Claims Research Does Not Support the Need

Claims Evidence for Pediatric Conditions is Limited - Distances Itself from DD Palmer & His Postulates

Despite epidemiological data and research showing that even a so called "normal birth" can be traumatic and that subluxations in the newborn are common, the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) claims otherwise.

In what amounts to an apology to the public, the CCA made these false claims in a press release responding to a ridiculous and factually inaccurate National Post article where the care of children was attacked by lay people and medical doctors with obvious biases towards chiropractic.

CLICK HERE for the CCA Press Release

In the National Post article, chiropractors were called "Charlatans" who "hurt babies" by a former member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly.

The Canadian National Post article written by Sharon Kirkey is filled with inaccuracies and false statements about an upcoming seminar sponsored by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) in Toronto in July, and Ottawa in November.

Kirkey, and the usual anti-chiropractic suspects, attacked Armand Rossi DC the scheduled ICPA seminar instructor and Dean of Clinical Sciences at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg SC.

Kirkey stated in her article that the ICPA programs:

". . . are effectively teaching chiropractors how to … take advantage of parents who may need legitimate medical care for their children."

The CCA, for its part, distances itself from DD Palmer who has been ridiculed in the Canadian press multiple times in the past couple of years. The CCA states that:

"While Daniel David Palmer is considered the founder of chiropractic, the profession — like other mainstream healthcare fields — has evolved, growing more reliant on evidence-based, patient-centred care."

The obvious jab at Palmer and his postulates by the CCA has become a common refrain from the Subluxation Deniers. This coupled with brazen attempts to re-define evidence informed practice to include only so called "high level evidence" have become staples of the Denier's strategy to discredit those focusing on vertebral subluxation.  

Similarly, the statement by the CCA that ". . . the evidence for pediatric conditions is limited" belies a related sleight of hand on the part of the Deniers since they are specifically referring to pediatric "conditions" as opposed to the evidence for the management of vertebral subluxation in the pediatric population - which is well established. 

The CCA looks foolish because of this and a negative light is further cast on all chiropractors with the CCA's false claim that current scientific evidence does not support the need for newborns to be checked for vertebral subluxation.

Numerous researchers within and outside of chiropractic have reported on the epidemiology related to spinal subluxations developing during pregnancy and through the birth process.

But this is nothing new in terms of what the CCA claims about chiropractic as the CCA, even in this press release, paints chiropractic as solely the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

They also admit their ignorance of the subject by stating:

"As we have no affiliation with the course provider, we cannot comment on course quality or its teachings."

The CCA also admits that ". . . there is no recognized pediatric specialization in chiropractic in Canada."

The practice of chiropractic focused on the management of vertebral subluxation in a vitalistic, salutogenic model has been under increasing attack in Canada as the spread of subluxation denialism spreads there from the United Kingdom and Australia.

Chiropractors in the UK, Canada and Australia have been under attack for making any claim of benefit beyond back and neck pain as the regulatory boards in those countries have excised the nervous system from the scope instead focusing on musculoskeletal conditions only.  Others have been attacked by their regulatory boards for voicing opinions on public health issues such as vaccination - even on their personal social media accounts.

The College of Chiropractors of Ontario recently endorsed vaccinations declaring them: “Safe & Effective” which, in and of itself, is a violation of the Ontario Chiropractic Practice Act.

CLICK HERE for that story

Similarly, in Nova Scotia, the chiropractic regulatory board there just fined Dena Churchill DC $100,000.00 to cover their costs of investigating Churchill's personal Facebook posts where she questions the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Meanwhile, the very people who signed the order demanding the money from her have claims on their websites that are questionable. Nevertheless they forced Churchill to surrender her license in order to end the investigation.  

CLICK HERE for more on Churchill's case

But throwing stones in glass houses seems to be a hobby of members of chiropractic regulatory boards in Canada. 

For example, in British Columbia the College of Chiropractors adopted an “acceptable evidence” policy and aggressively went after  chiropractors who they deemed had violated it and threatens to do more of the same.

After reviewing the Policy and the standards of conduct for chiropractors in British Columbia we undertook a review of the websites of the members of the Board of the College of Chiropractors to see if their own websites would meet their Policy and we found violation after violation of their own Policy.

CLICK HERE for that story

And not to be outdone the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) recently proudly announced that they have signed onto the International Chiropractic Education Collaboration Clinical and Professional Chiropractic Education Position Statement, joining 12 other institutions that have renounced subluxation around the world. This document is based upon and supports the theme of the World Federation of Chiropractic's Educational Statement formulated in November 2014. 

CLICK HERE for that story

This comes just after CMCC President Dr. David Wickes referred to anyone practicing in a subluxation, vitalistic model as "the gangrenous arm of the profession that needs to be cut off".

CLICK HERE for more on that story

Canadian chiropractors practicing in a vitalistic, salutogenic model have found themselves under attack in several Canadian Provinces where the Subluxation Deniers have seized control of the regulatory boards and are systematically going after these practitioners. According to sources this has led to an exodus of members from the Canadian Chiropractic Association and the development of a new organization - The Alliance for Chiropractic.

According to their website:

"The Alliance For Chiropractic exists to heighten public awareness of Chiropractic Life Principles and the multitude of health benefits associated with experiencing Chiropractic care provided in a Principle-Centered, Neurologically-based Wellness Model."

CLICK HERE for more on the Alliance

CLICK HERE for more on the events in Canada

McCoy Press