In an era of ever-increasing multidisciplinary cooperation, the American Medical Association (AMA) has played the proverbial spoiler's role, continuing its unabashed dedication to containing and limiting competition that began in 1963 with the formation of the Committee on Quackery.
While the committee (originally called the Committee on Chiropractic, interestingly enough) disbanded in 1974, and the chiropractic profession achieved a significant victory in the historic Wilk v. AMA suit in 1987, the AMA apparently has not changed its opinion regarding chiropractors and other non-MD/DO providers. Recent glaring examples of the organization's biased ways include legislation and resolutions designed to investigate, restrict and otherwise limit the ability of alternative health care providers to care for their patients.
For example, in 2006, the AMA announced the establishment of the Scope of Practice Partnership (Resolution 814), a conglomeration of state medical associations and medical specialty groups created, according to one association newsletter, "to marshal the medical community's resources against the growing threat of expanding scope of practice for allied health professionals." And just a few months ago, AMA delegates approved Resolution 232, which advocates the use of state legislation to make it a felony for any non-MD/DO to "misrepresent" themselves as a "physician."
Fortunately, despite what the AMA may think, individual medical doctors increasingly recognize the value of chiropractors and chiropractic care. Case in point: Dr. Jonathan J. Paley, an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Paley recently sent a letter to DC, criticizing Resolution 232 and praising doctors of chiropractic. Dr. Paley's letter is printed in its entirety as follows, with our thanks for his support of the chiropractic profession.
Dear Editor:
I had an opportunity to review the AMA's Resolution 232, wherein it would become a felony for chiropractic doctors to call themselves physicians. It is this archaic thinking that has led the AMA to foster these meaningless resolutions, especially against organizations and professions more successful than itself.
Instead of representing its membership with superfluous resolutions like 232, I would suggest that the AMA concentrate on more germane and fundamental issues such as its own declining enrollment. Perhaps spending more time on how to thwart the ravages of managed care or the looming specter of socialized medicine would be more appropriate venues for such a prestigious body.
Instead, the AMA has chosen to spend its time and money proposing a resolution to limit chiropractic doctors (actually to make it a felony) from calling themselves physicians.
For the record, I am an orthopedic surgeon (yes, a physician!) who, after 16 years of private practice, has noted the following:
- Chiropractic physicians are more in tune to their patients' needs than most MDs or DOs.
- I have rarely, if ever, heard criticisms from a patient about a chiropractic physician. I cannot say the same about my MD or DO colleagues.
- The recent trend by MDs/DOs espousing "wellness" as the key to all our social and medical ills has been the cornerstone of chiropractic physician care for decades.
- I have had dozens of request5 from chiropractic physicians to come observe surgery, especially on their own patients. This is not just as a learning experience, but also so that this physician may accurately relate to his patient those findings at surgery. I have yet to have a single MD/DO practitioner request the same.
- I have noted that chiropractic physicians routinely cover high school and college athletic programs and are now recognized by the NCAA as a valuable asset. They are considered an integral part in the medical coverage of these programs.
- Finally, the diagnostic workup on patients referred from chiropractic offices is often more complete or just as complete compared to those of MDs or DOs.
The specialty of chiropractic medicine has evolved in continuum and for the better. Most, if not all, chiropractic physicians recognize the limitations of what their field delivers to present-day medicine. This is in direct contradistinction to the philosophy of many MDs and DOs who fail to recognize the valuable contribution that chiropractic medicine makes to its patients. In all fairness, however, this perception is changing and for the better.
It should be underscored that all physicians, irrespective of the letters after their names, have much to glean from each other. The pomposity espoused by the AMA in Resolution 232 is from a time gone by and has no place in the philosophy of modern-day medicine.
To many observers, chiropractic medicine and its physicians are ahead of the medical curve in many respects. This field promotes a life of wellness now just being recognized as possibly the key to containing the ever-soaring cost of medicine. This is something that chiropractic physicians have recognized for decades. These physicians should be applauded, not sanctioned.
Sincerely,
Jonathan J. Paley, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
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