The ACA, National Board and the ACC Remain Silent

The International Chiropractors Association in a statement released this week expressed grave concern over the New Mexico Scope Expansion.

According to the ICA statement the expansion of scope has the potential of fundamentally changing the nature of chiropractic practice as well as confusing the public and possibly placing the public at risk at the hands of a new category of provider.

According to the ICA's press release:

• Public safety is in question
• Public understanding of chiropractic as a true alternative to drug-based approaches is in jeopardy
• The New Mexico law change represents a major paradigm shift for the chiropractic profession.
• Testing of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners does not include testing for the credentialing of the practice of medicine.
• The Chiropractic Paradigm developed by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) and endorsed by every chiropractic organization in the United States identifies chiropractic practice as being drug-free.

The ICA stated that action is needed to avoid damaging chiropractic nationwide and urged "...all organizations and institutions within the chiropractic profession to take a stand on this issue, supporting the maintenance of chiropractic as a drug-free profession, clearly distinct from the practice of medicine and to oppose the tiering of the chiropractic profession as is established in the New Mexico statute." 

The ICA also strongly urged the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) to "...not give this initiative credibility by the establishment of any national exam to be used for the purposes of prescribing drugs and practicing medicine."

The American Chiropractic Association has gone on record supporting the creation of advanced designations for chiropractors and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners is purportedly developing an exam for such purposes. The Association of Chiropractic Colleges has not issued any statements on the issue despite the fact that one of its members, National College, is heading up the Advanced Practice initiative.

As always I look forward to your feedback, comments and suggestions.

Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
matthewmccoy@comcast.net
Editor - Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic
http://www.chiropracticpediatricresearch.net