"This bill is intended to eliminate the current debate over whether chiropractors are competent to testify in the courts of this state on matters relating to causation, permanent impairment and disability.
The bill was introduced by Roger Roy (R), a state representative since 1976.
"Roy's power in the house is what got this bill through," asserted Trent Camp,DC, president of the Delaware Chiropractic Society. "He has supported chiropractors for years, and has always come through for us. He produced a beautiful piece of political art in his presentation of the bill."
The bill has been passed on to a committee of the Delaware Senate.
"Bill 407 defines that DCs are experts, and we have the governor's support on it," observed Dr. Camp. He explained the bill was necessary because State Farm had convinced a Delaware superior judge that chiropractors weren't qualified to be expert witnesses in court. The judge did not allow the chiropractic experts to testify, and the same scenario was repeated a few weeks later.
Dr. Camp noted that the Medical Society of Delaware was at first neutral on this controversy, but later opposed chiropractors speaking as expert witnesses in court on the grounds that chiropractors are not "physicians."
"We produced material showing that we were under the category of 'physicians,'" reported Dr. Camp.
"I want to warn chiropractic leaders that this can easily occur in their states, and to encourage them to include the term 'chiropractic physician' in their statutory language," Dr. Camp told DC.
As for how the Delaware Senate will greet the bill, Dr. Camp said Delaware DCs are "cautiously optimistic about its approval."
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