CCP guidelines spread across Canada

The guidelines document -- "Vertebral Subluxation in Chiropractic Practice" -- developed by the Council on Chiropractic Practice (CCP) -- is fast winning support throughout Canada.

Ernie Miron, D.C., of Manitoba Province recently reported that the guidelines have been adopted there.

During the development process, Dr. Miron -- then Chair of the Manitoba Chiropractors Standards Committee -- served as one of a large number of reviewers throughout the U.S., Canada and other nations. The review process was considered essential in order to avoid the kind of controversy which had arisen from the "closed door" procedure followed by the writers of the Mercy guidelines.

"I took it upon myself to send a copy of the completed (CCP) guidelines to our Board of Directors suggesting their review for a couple of reasons," he explained. "They were the only subluxation-based guidelines, they were current, and in my personal opinion were a real breath of fresh air as compared to our Canadian Glenarin Guidelines."

The Glenarin Guidelines have been called the Canadian version of the Mercy document, which failed to solicit input from the profession and represented mechanical low-back-pain syndromes and musculo-skeletal treatment in a medical model.

Acting on Miron's request, the Board directed the Standards Committee to review the guidelines and make recommendations on their application in Manitoba. Although an initial review of the guidelines was completed and forwarded to the Board, no immediate action was taken on them.

In May 1999, Miron left his position as chair and pursued the guideline issue. While no longer a member of the Standards Committee, he contacted the executive director to "ensure this matter had not fallen by the wayside," he explained.

The issue was placed back on the Board's agenda and following further consultation with the Standards Committee, the CCP guidelines were ratified in the same manner as the Board had ratified the Glenarin Guidelines.