An Open Letter to the Profession
From the World Chiropractic Alliance
In response to the
American Chiropractic Association

Dear Doctors:

It is with great regret that we must take time to respond to the recent attack on the World Chiropractic Alliance by the American Chiropractic Association.

An “Open Letter to the Profession,” signed by Daryl D. Wills, D.C., ACA president, and James D. Edwards, D.C., ACA chairman, and inserted into the June 2, 2003 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic, contained a number of spurious assaults on the WCA and other chiropractic organizations.

The WCA’s intent is not now – and has never been – to be “divisive,” as the ACA claimed. We were founded on the principle of “live and let live,” (see The Chiropractic Journal, August 1989) From the very beginning, our goal has been to prevent the elimination of subluxation-based chiropractors, who were (and still are) suffering tremendous discrimination and harassment within our profession. We continue to seek fair representation of conservative chiropractic and do not attempt to destroy or contain any doctor who practices within the legal scope of chiropractic.

Recently, the Chiropractic Coalition invited the ACA to participate in joint legislative efforts that could have achieved a measure of harmony in the profession. The ACA refused, and its board passed a resolution that it would “forego further joint legislative efforts,” with other chiropractic groups. The ACA leaders, in essence, walked away from the table rather than work cooperatively with organizations it could not control. This is coercion – not cooperation.

Let us correct a few of the most blatant pieces of misinformation in the ACA attack:

** The WCA never attacked William Morgan, D.C., either personally or professionally. The WCA did state that, since Dr. Morgan was an ACA member, he did not represent the entire profession. We asked only that he join other major organizations as well or that other doctors be allowed to provide chiropractic services to members of Congress. (NOTE added July 17, 2003: The WCA would like to clarify that it never had any objection to Dr. Morgan serving as chiropractor to Congress, nor any criticism of Dr. Morgan's abilities. The WCA merely hoped that a doctor, or doctors, representing other chiropractic organizations be given similar positions).

** The ACA criticized the WCA for having a “secret” non-published membership list. Why it is so important to the ACA to know the names of our members? We have never claimed to have a majority of D.C.s as members in the WCA. No organization can make that claim. We have chosen not to release the names of our members since, in the past, members have been harassed by the ACA and targeted with correspondence “suggesting” they resign from the WCA. The WCA should be judged on its effectiveness rather than its size. Considering the amount of time and energy the ACA spends discussing our activities, we must be very effective!

** The ACA found fault with our organizational structure, noting that we have a “self-proclaimed and un-elected president for life.” Admittedly, the WCA is not structured like the ACA, which is one of the reasons we have been able to act quickly and effectively for the good of the profession. The members of our Board of Directors are chosen according to the WCA by-laws. Our members don’t have a problem with this – why does it bother the ACA so much?

** The ACA said the “so-called ‘coalition’ represents less than 4 percent of the profession.” The Chiropractic Coalition is comprised of its three founding members, the International Chiropractors Association, the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations and the WCA.

Other organizations that have joined the Coalition include: Australian World Chiropractic Alliance, Chiropractic Association of Ireland, Chiropractic Awareness Council of Ontario, Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania, Colorado Chiropractic Wellness Alliance, Florida Chiropractic Society, Israel Doctors of Chiropractic, Michigan Chiropractic Association, Oregon Doctors of Chiropractic, Palmetto State Chiropractic Association, Peruvian Chiropractic Association, Santa Clara District of the California Chiropractic Association, and New Hampshire Straight Chiropractic Society.

It is the height of arrogance for the ACA to suggest that it is the only organization with the right to act for the chiropractic profession, or that it is correct and all other organizations – regardless of their size or history – are wrong. Further, since the ACA complains the WCA’s membership roster is “secret,” how can it claim to know what percent of the profession the Coalition represents?

** The WCA has never “aided medical organizations” or acted against chiropractic, as the ACA claimed. Repeatedly, the WCA has worked to expand all government legislation so that it includes specific reference to and protection for subluxation correction services. In the recent effort in regards to the V.A. bill, for instance, the ACA was willing to accept the law even if included reference ONLY to “treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.” The WCA worked hard with the ICA to make sure additional language was added that protected the D.C.’s right to correct vertebral subluxations. The WCA never attempted to have the reference to neuro-musculoskeletal conditions removed from the bill.

To suggest that the WCA works with medical organizations is absolutely ludicrous. The WCA is the only chiropractic organization to publish an electronic newsletter (www.wcanews.com) highlighting the dangers of modern medicine. Further, it is the only chiropractic organization to have published in book form a scathing indictment of the medical and pharmaceutical industries (“Under the Influence,” which is available as a free download through the WCA website.).

The fact is, the ACA is the lone chiropractic organization to have established a working relationship with the AMA. The ACA and AMA have signed joint letters to various agencies of the U.S. Government (for example, see: www.chiroweb.com/archives/15/12/11.html) and worked closely to develop the Medicare language which the ACA is now fighting through its $5 million lawsuit (see www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/1996/dec/dec1996a.htm).

** The ACA said the WCA “celebrated” the defeat of the Trigon lawsuit. This is totally false. The news report we issued (www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/news/trigon.htm) was factual and contained no analysis by WCA leaders. Ironically, the ruling was celebrated by George McAndrews, the ACA’s attorney who stated in a Chiropractic Economic’s article: “The judge’s ruling actually has several benefits for us.”

It is true that the WCA – and the other members of the Chiropractic Coalition – have decided not to give additional money to the ACA’s legal fund for the Trigon and Medicare lawsuits since we are pursuing a legislative solution. Dr. Rondberg had previously donated $10,000 to the ACA’s NCLAF, and an article in the April 2003 issue of The Chiropractic Journal noted that “the Coalition decision was not an attack on the ACA or an attempt to cause further conflict between the ACA and the other organizations.”

We could go on and on, refuting point by point every statement in the ACA’s letter, but instead, we ask you to read the Internet documents highlighted in this letter. Also read the information about the WCA on our website. See for yourself what the World Chiropractic Alliance stands for and how it has tried repeatedly to achieve a level of peace and harmony in our profession. We have worked with other chiropractic organizations in the National Chiropractic Leadership Forum and in the Chiropractic Coalition. The WCA, ICA, FSCO and other chiropractic organizations are working together to safeguard ALL doctors of chiropractic. The ACA is the ONLY organization refusing to work cooperatively with different groups. Instead, it spends its time and energy – and its member’s dues money – attacking the WCA and others.

The ACA letter ended by stating:

“It is time our profession came of age and ended the petty internal bickering that has tarnished our professional image in the eyes of the public, the legislators, and the patients we serve. And it is time to root out those within the profession who attack others solely so they can further their own selfish agendas.”

We couldn’t have said it better. It is time to root out those within the profession who attack others solely so they can further their own selfish agendas. Let’s begin with the ACA leaders who signed their name to the letter attacking the WCA.

Sincerely,
 

P.S. If you would like to register your concerns about this ACA letter and its other divisive activities, the ACA e-mail address is memberinfo@amerchiro.org. The WCA Board Members may be contacted by e-mail at comments@worldchiropracticalliance.org.