A couple of chiropractors to be deported from Brazil. This is what most Brazilians in the northeast region of Brazil read in the local newspapers on Sept. 25, 2011. The article was about two U.S. chiropractors who were serving an underprivileged population in the city of Fortaleza by providing them with chiropractic care.
Later that day, another online newspaper published that the Federal Police (Policia Federal) had gone to check on the situation and found these two chiropractors providing care. However, due to the fact that they were not charging for their care and the treatments were not habitual (establishing a business), the chiropractors were not found guilty of illegal practice of physiotherapy and were not deported. But because they were on a tourist visa, they were found to be in violation of their immigration status. As a result, instead of being allowed to remain in the country for the entire extension of their visa, the Federal Police cut their visa permit of stay from the 15 days that were left to only eight.
The most important lesson to be learned from this situation is that even though people have good intentions, Brazil is under war right now and has been for some time. Organized physiotherapy will launch attacks on anyone who falls into its range. Legally, there is an injunction in effect right now granting the right of practice for Brazilian citizens, but this does not extend to foreigners. If, on the one hand, this makes the local news talk about chiropractic, on the other hand, it brings some negative connotation to the profession due to the sensationalism of the media. Words such as detained and deported are not desirable to be associated with the word chiropractic, especially now that regulation is on its way in Brazil.
Due to the efforts of the Brazilian Chiropractic Association, with international support through the World Federation of Chiropractic, a new strategy of regulation has been launched. Both houses of Congress have generated a draft of a bill that will regulate the chiropractic profession, granting protection of title and protection of practice. For obvious reasons and considering its history, the physiotherapy profession will likely try to stop it at any cost.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions for doctors of chiropractic from the U.S. and other countries with chiropractic regulation / licensure who would like to serve the Brazilian population – without jeopardizing ongoing efforts for chiropractic legislation in Brazil:
- Teams willing to enter Brazil to provide humanitarian care should always contact and liaise with the Brazilian Chiropractic Association and/or the World Federation of Chiropractic.
- In preparing to go to Brazil,, make sure that all members of the team hold a valid visa called "Volunteer Work – Temporary Visa" that can be requested at the local Consulate of Brazil.
- The team should find a local chiropractor who can follow up on care and educate the population.
- Refrain from teaching any chiropractic techniques to local people who are not fully educated, university-trained chiropractors.
In following the above guidelines, agencies and individuals desiring to provide chiropractic care will enjoy the hospitality of one of the most interesting and warm countries without the risk of experiencing any undesirable situation. It also will empower local efforts to make the profession in Brazil known, accepted and regulated.
To contact the Brazilian Chiropractic Association, visit www.quiropraxia.org.br. For information on how to apply for a volunteer work visa, visit www.brazilsf.org/visa_voluntary_eng.htm. To read about the 2009 court decision that opened the doors to legislative efforts to regulate chiropractic, read "Victory in Brazil" in the May 6, 2009 issue of DC.
Dr. Ricardo Fujikawa is the immediate past president of the Brazilian Chiropractic Association and advisor to the association's Committee on Regulation. Currently, he resides in Spain, where he serves as director of the College of Chiropractic at the Royal University Centre in Madrid.