The Andersons' saga began in Sweden where they practiced chiropractic from 1984-89.
The Andersons lauded Sid Williams, D.C., for his hard work in advancing the cause of chiropractic in Sweden. These efforts have shown fruit. While chiropractors are not yet licensed to x-ray in Sweden, they are treated as legitimate practitioners in other respects.
In 1989, the Andersons moved to Hungary to pioneer chiropractic in that country. Dr. Sid Williams has also supporting chiropractic in Hungary by sending both x-ray equipment and other supplies. In April of 1989, the Andersons did an interview on Hungarian television that resulted in over 400 calls from people interested in receiving chiropractic care.
The Andersons' long-term goal is to set up a CCE accredited chiropractic college. The Andersons have turned down offers from medical doctors to set up an allopathic controlled chiropractic college and are holding out for a CCE-accredited program.
In October of 1990, this goal was almost within the Andersons' grasp. They were scheduled to open a clinic and school in a major hospital that would have served as the basis for applying for CCE accreditation. Two weeks prior to the scheduled opening date of this program, however, two medical doctors from the United States flew over and launched an attack on the program and on chiropractic that resulted in it being postponed.
The Andersons have opened a clinic. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to noon each day. As many as 200 people have lined up, starting at 7:00 a.m. in order to receive chiropractic treatment. As of October 1990 they were completely booked with appointments through the end of February 1991. While there is obviously a great need for chiropractic in Hungary, some doctors in the United States might have trouble getting accustomed to the pay scale. In Hungary, a chiropractor could expect to be paid $8 per visit in the country and $12 per visit in Budapest.
The Andersons report that there is one great threat to the future of chiropractic in Europe. This is the so-called "weekend wonders" who go to unaccredited weekend courses and then call themselves chiropractic doctors. Both Italy and Germany are churning out thousands of these weekend wonders who are seriously damaging the image of chiropractic in Europe. The Andersons estimated that there were over 6,000 of these loosely trained chiropractic practitioners in Sweden alone.
Chiropractic in Hungary needs your support. If you would like to help the Andersons in their pioneering efforts, you can contact them at: Garbor Aron 68A, H11026, Budapest, Hungary; telephone/fax 36-111-52573.
Shawn Steel created a new field of law by defending chiropractors and acupuncturists, and representing their patients in personal-injury matters. He has law offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif.; has taught ethics and jurisprudence classes at Cleveland Chiropractic College since 1991; and is a prolific lecturer and writer with more than 40 articles and book chapters to his credit.