International Board of Governors Resolutions 2002

A. POLICY DIRECTION

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE:

A.1. Intervene in state legislative issues when it feels it would be in the best interests of subluxation-based chiropractic to do so (even if it means opposing the position of a state organization)

A.2.  In keeping with the WCA Declaration on International Affairs, intervene in international issues (outside the U.S.) when it feels it would be in the best interests of subluxation-based chiropractic to do so (even if it means opposing the position of chiropractic organizations in that country)

A.3. Continue to be a vocal and active proponent of freedom of choice and informed consent with respect to vaccinations, and continue to be a vocal and active opponent of mandatory vaccinations

A.4. Assist and support efforts to pass laws and/or regulations stating that the doctor of chiropractic is the only professional qualified to perform spinal adjustments to correct vertebral subluxation

A.5. Continue to stress the subluxation component of chiropractic in all legislation (even if it means opposing the positions of other chiropractic organizations which are willing to support laws that cover only neuromusculoskeletal conditions)

ALL PASSED BY CONSENSUS

B. REVENUE GENERATION

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE:

B.1. • After development by the Board of an endorsement protocol that provides the necessary due diligence, continue to seek out opportunities to increase revenues through endorsements with high-quality companies whose products or services directly involve the well-being of chiropractors or their patients and are consistent with WCA goals and standards.

B.2. • Explore ways to increase revenue through web advertising, corporate sponsorship, product sales, etc.

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C. CONDUCT AND PROCEDURES

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE:

C.1. Encourages cooperation with other chiropractic organizations whose values are congruent with those of the WCA;

C.2. Be willing to take actions on specific issues (including legislation) even if it is criticized by another major chiropractic organization for doing so

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D. ISSUE AREA PRIORITIES

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE ADDRESS THESE ISSUE AREAS AS IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES:

D.1 House Concurrent Resolution 46 expressing the ‘sense of the Congress’ about chiropractic.

D.2. Legislation specifying that D.C.s are the ONLY practitioners permitted to perform spinal adjustments for the correction of vertebral subluxation.

D.3. Further, that an international model chiropractic licensing law, that includes subluxation concepts, be developed

D.4. Public education/relations programs stressing the vertebral subluxation, such as promoting the rights of parents to bring their infants and children to a chiropractor, and women’s health care issues and the benefits of chiropractic

D.5. Inclusion of subluxation-based chiropractic in all federal government health care programs.

D.6 Health care language i.e., the elimination of the word ‘medicine’ when referring to chiropractic and complementary & alternative medicine; the use of the word ‘adjustment’ instead of ‘manipulation’ when appropriate; the use of the term ‘practice member’ instead of patient, etc.

D.7. Promotion of more widespread acceptance of the CCP Guidelines

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BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE ADDRESS THESE ISSUE AREAS AS SECONDARY PRIORITIES:

D.8. Preventing the expansion of chiropractic scope of practice to include drugs.

D.9. Assist in de-regulating Chiropractic State Board’s administrative rules mandating medical diagnoses, tests, or therapies.

D.10. Mandatory vaccination legislation and court rulings; the right to choose not to receive vaccines as a requirement for employment, enrollment in school, or public service or other lawful activities

D.11. Elimination of discriminatory practices by insurance companies (i.e., using ‘red flags’ to deny claims for subluxation correction, etc.).

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BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE ADDRESS THESE ISSUE AREAS OVER THE LONGER-TERM:

D.12. HCFA lawsuit to stop abuses in the administration of the Medicare system.

D.13. Identification of anti-chiropractic practices and reform of the managed health care system.

D.14. Establishment of a U.S. military ‘Chiropractic Corps’ Commissioned Officer status for D.C.s).

D.15. Approval of a U.S. Postage Stamp honoring chiropractic and/or B.J. Palmer.

D.16. Mentoring for students, WCA members. and new doctors.

D.17. The problem of student debt load formulate possible programs to assist new graduates.

D.18. Humanitarian chiropractic service to un-served and underserved populations in the U.S. (homeless and women’s shelters, etc.).

D.19. Humanitarian chiropractic missions to developing nations.

E. ACC PARADIGM

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE AFFIRMS:

E.1 • The WCA supports the intent of the ACC Paradigm on Chiropractic, and finds the language acceptable.

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F. IBG POSITION STATEMENTS

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD CHIROPRACTIC ALLIANCE AFFIRMS THESE STATEMENTS:

F.1. Chiropractic should remain drug free. The scope of practice should never include medications

F.2. Some acceptable reference to subluxation correction must be included in any legislation regarding chiropractic.

F.3. Chiropractic colleges should place an emphasis on teaching chiropractic philosophy, and on the art and science of adjustments, subluxation, and its correction.

F.4. Chiropractic should be available to all people, including infants, children, pregnant women, and those that are asymptomatic.

F.5. Lifetime family wellness care is an important part of chiropractic.

F.6. Mandatory vaccinations are improper and unethical. Medical treatment and medications, including vaccines, should never be compulsory for school attendance, employment, or any other lawful activity.

F.7. No chiropractic organization has the right to claim authority over the profession as a whole internationally, or exclusive authority to act on behalf of the chiropractic profession when dealing with governments or civil society.

F.8. Individual chiropractors, chiropractic associations, and chiropractic educational institutions engaged in activities involving other countries should respect the culture and unique needs of the people of that country.

F.9. There should be increased public education and research relating to the effects of vertebral subluxation in women, including possible effects of subluxations on menses, fertility, stress, critical thinking and vitality.

F.10. The words chiropractic and medicine are contradictory and should not be used in combination (ie., chiropractic medicine)

F.11 The correct terminology is Doctor of Chiropractic or Chiropractor. The term Chiropractic Physician is inappropriate and misleading.

ALL PASSED BY CONSENSUS