Dear Editor:
The April 9, 2001 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic ran an advertisement for laser surgery as treatment for herniated discs, on page six.
The advertisers made no attempt to promote this treatment as being complimentary to chiropractic adjustments, or a last resort for patients whose problems didn't respond to chiropractic adjustments. You did not print any disclaimer on the same page, though I know you printed a disclaimer on the same page as the editor's article, albeit in a font size so small, it requires the use of a magnifying glass to read it.
I understand that it is important that chiropractors stay current on available treatments, but this was not presented by the paper to educate, or to reveal the pros and cons of a procedure.
With the headline "30-Minute Laser Session Ends Backaches," the ad implies that instead of telling patients that we can help them with a protocol of adjustments that will take time, they should just opt for this treatment. Why have the patient suffer for even one week, when in thirty minutes the problem can be resolved?
I always read your newspaper to stay informed about chiropractic in the healthcare and political arenas. I feel that the insertion of this ad was a slap in the face to the chiropractic profession since it is a complete opposition to chiropractic care - versus other ads that are complimentary to our profession!
Margaret Savitzky,DC
Flushing, New York
"Black Box" Chiropractic
Dear Editor:
(regarding "From the Bully Pulpit," by Garrison Pomeroy in the March 26, 2001 issue)
When I was a first-trimester student at Logan 20 years ago, our excellent philosophy teacher, George Chirkinian, had guest speakers come to speak to us on various philosophical topics. We got to listen to Reggie Gold, and we also heard from Terry Rondberg. At that time, one of Dr. (and I do use that term loosely) Rondberg's philosophies was that of the "black box system"- don't charge any specific fees for what you're doing and the patient will appreciate the worth and donate accordingly.
It appears the black box system is no longer working for Dr. Rondberg, if he has to use such extraordinary measures for financing his particularly divisive philosophical bent. (Please don't print my email address, as I wouldn't relish a hate-mail letter from him similar to another doctor's in a past issue!)
Marcy Halterman,DC,JD
College Station, Texas
"Let us strive to spread the blessing we have through chiropractic"
Dear Editor:
I have read Dr. Sportelli's article on Chiroweb.com ("Another New Year - Anything New Happening?" from the Jan. 1, 2001 issue), and I couldn't agree more with him on the situation of chiropractic at present. I am not sure about the snowflakes and avalanche! (I am from Egypt, and we do not have these things there!)
I believe that the chiropractic profession is on the right track now, after over a hundred years of being distracted by crossfiring and defending itself against the AMA. Most of the negative attitude of some of our colleagues toward research that he mentions in his article, in my opinion, are just the results of this bitter battle, which is now a cold war!
For example, we know that Dr. B.J. Palmer was heavily active in research, and that he incorporated all the available diagnostic equipment for chiropractic research. He hired MDs in his lab to document the efficacy of the chiropractic adjustment on bodily functions. His school taught diagnosis more in depth than we teach today in some of our chiropractic colleges. Since there were so many legal claims against chiropractors at the time (for "practicing medicine without a license"), I think it was a smart move on their part to use the term "analysis" rather than "diagnosis," even though that was also neglected!
The Palmer clinic used to have ambulances to bring difficult cases to chiropractic care. We even know that Dr. Palmer took care of a mental hospital in Iowa, with amazing results. The Mayo clinic consulted with Dr. Palmer in a case from the Mayo family itself, where the patient was suffering a complicated condition. She recovered under chiropractic care. The gift of gratitude from the Mayos was free health care for all Palmer employees!
Today there is no reason to ignore research; diagnosis; labs; other health professionals; or other health arts. There is no such threat! On the contrary, there is increasing awareness as well as acceptance about chiropractic. More than half of the medical schools are teaching a course of introduction to alternative health care. Most of the graduates of medical schools receive an orientation about alternative health care, including chiropractic. At least it is a start in the right direction! At present, there is a chiropractor on staff in the White House to adjust its staff. Military personnel and veterans have the right to demand chiropractic care. Many multidisciplinary, even interdisciplinary clinics that include chiropractics are being established. An optional rotation of medical school clinics includes chiropractic care in some schools. Chiropractic divisions have been started in some hospitals, and chiropractors are practicing with other health professionals in some hospitals. The examples of integration of the different health disciplines are countless.
The increased activity of chiropractic research that we have seen through the ACC annual research and the RAC meetings is a very healthy attitude. I believe it is essential to establish the credibility of what we do through scientific research. Building the bridge of scientific communication between different health professionals can lead to a better health care system with less invasive procedures; less medical toxicity; less malpractice; less unnecessary complications in surgery; and definitely less cost and better health and well-being.
Let us ignore the barrier against spreading the big vision of chiropractic to the majority of the population, and let us strive to spread the blessing we have through chiropractic to every citizen and nation.
Khaled A. Khorshid,MD,MS,DC
Kentuckiana Children's Center
Louisville, Kentucky
"...we are capable of doing more than creating menus."
Dear Dr. Anderson:
I take issue with you on your opinion of dietitians. I am a registered and licensed dietitian in Texas. I want you to know that dietitians do far more than create hospital menus. (Actually, we don't create hospital menus anymore, since that job has been taken over by corporate-run hospital food management. These people may have two years of education at the college level and very little, if any, nutritional education. They create menus based on the bottom line, not on the basis of what's healthy. The last hospital I worked for actually had hot dogs on the menu for a heart patient! We are "consulted" for our input, but then promptly ignored on the basis of cost.)
I find your attitude toward dietitians offensive. Just as your profession has undergone periods of the "medical elite" thinking you all were quacks, dietitians have had to undergo the same type of stereotypes." All we do is create menus." It is time that we begin to rely on one another's expertise to aid in the healing of patients. Just as I cannot manipulate or adjust a patient's spine, you cannot determine the proper formulation of total parenteral nutrition for a trauma victim.
Dietitians have been striving for years to put these stereotypes to rest, but with the continued attitudes of doctors like you, we have a long row to hoe. I encourage you to approach my profession with an open mind and give dietitians a chance to prove to you and every other naysayer that we are capable of doing more than creating menus.
While you may have an extensive education in nutritional matters, know that dietitians have been trained for at least four years in the science of nutrition. We undergo years of clinical hands-on practice before being allowed to test for registration or licensure. We must have many hours of continued education in order to keep our license and registration. We are professionals just like you.
I commend you on your willingness to see that nutrition plays an integral role in overall health. Please also see that others besides chiropractors are capable of assisting patients with their nutritional healthcare needs. Not all dietitians are cut from the same cloth, doctor.
Debra Truncale,RD,LD
"Dr. Cooperstein writes with precision and attitude."
(Editor's note: Part one of Dr.Cooperstein's article appeared in our February 12, 2001 issue; part two is in this issue.)
Dear Editor:
Dr. Robert Cooperstein's article on the American Back Society Meeting in Vancouver was refreshingly entertaining, especially regarding his take on the sacro iliac joint presentation by Diane Lee. As the sacro-occipital technique professor at Life University, I understand the significance of the role of the sacroiliac joint in spinal mechanics. The idea that a chiropractor would not analyze and adjust the SI joint with extreme specificity is a mystery to me.
DeJarnette determined the necessity of this in the 1930s. This is the basis of category II SOT, which constitutes about 80 percent of the typical chiropractic practice load. It's nice to see the same ideas from other health care practitioners.
Dr. Cooperstein writes with precision and attitude. I like that.
Jerry I. Hochman,DC
Marietta, Georgia 30062