Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation Rejects FCLB X-Ray Resolution

Saturday, May 15, 2021 - 15:25 Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation

Flawed Resolution Language Creates Risk to Public Health

The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) recently passed a Resolution that prior to obtaining radiographic imaging, a treating Doctor of Chiropractic will inform the patient of the "material risks" of x-ray.

As an organization advising chiropractors on POLICY issues affecting the chiropractic profession and the patients they serve we reject the Resolution as written and passed by the FCLB.

This language imposes a duty upon the chiropractor and is a dangerous mandate from a risk management perspective. Those that wish to ban the use of x-rays for subluxation analysis will use this language and demand that chiropractors must disclose claims of oncogenic and genotoxic effects, they will claim that there is no evidence that patients x-rayed get better outcomes and that all of this must be disclosed to the patient. It also appears to require a separate informed consent and/or specific language to be added to already existing consent forms and processes.

We support the use of x-rays for the analysis and management of vertebral subluxation and we encourage an evidence-informed approach to the use of radiography in the assessment of vertebral subluxation.

Doctors of chiropractic are trained to determine the safety and appropriateness of chiropractic care. This training includes the use of radiographs to detect and characterize vertebral subluxations, congenital and developmental anomalies which may affect the selection of chiropractic techniques, and conditions which may contraindicate certain chiropractic adjusting methods. Furthermore, radiography may reveal conditions requiring referral to another type of health care provider.

The FCLB is not a government agency, does not represent the interests of chiropractic trade organizations, their members nor the patients they serve and furthermore this language represents a threat to public health.

We encourage chiropractic state associations, chiropractic research organizations, chiropractic technique organizations, malpractice companies, chiropractic educational programs and individual chiropractors to join us in rejecting this Resolution.

Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation Board of Directors

May 13, 2021