February 2006

The principle is not prejudice

by Dr. Greg Loman

Not long ago, I heard a statement that could be the statement of the year: "Where there is prejudice there is no reason."

This statement pretty much describes chiropractic's last 110 years. Does this mean we fold our tents? Or, should we continue fighting and making sure every man, woman, and child hears the truth?

Something happened to me recently that influenced me to think we should continue helping humanity.

A patient who has been under care in my office for 10 years carried his elderly dachshund through the door. The dog was wrapped up in a urine pad and both back legs were paralyzed. The vet had evaluated him and given him a diagnosis of a damaged spinal cord with excessive inflammation.

As I was examining the dog for subluxation, his owner said that when they were at the vet's office earlier in the day, the vet had wanted to do a $2,500 surgery on the dog, and if that didn't work, they would put him down. My patient responded, "I am going to take my dog to my chiropractor." Laughing, the vet replied, "When you're done playing around at the chiropractor, bring the dog back and a real doctor will help him."

As I continued the exam, there was fire shooting out of my ears ‑‑ it was obvious the dog was massively subluxated in his cervical and lumbar areas. I adjusted him three times, then another chiropractor in my office took over and within two weeks the dog was running.

This coming week we'll be visiting the vet's office to show him the prejudice without any reasoning that is destroying the lives of millions.

BJ said, "You never know how far‑reaching something you may say, think, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow." Sometimes it really scares me to think that our profession has just as much prejudice on the inside as people do on the outside.

I hear...

 ‑‑ "Those volume chiropractors can't be giving quality care."

 ‑‑ "This (or that) technique really doesn't work."

 ‑‑ "They belong to that management group."

 ‑‑ "Seeing someone that many times is over‑utilization."

 ‑‑ "He (or she) is a mixer."

 ‑‑ "That guy has a massage therapist."

 ‑‑ "Did you know she hired an MD?"

 ‑‑ "He went to that college."

Do you really think that little dog that was about to be gassed cared whether we were from Parker or Northwestern, were straights or mixers, or had a volume practice? The dog is alive because he received an adjustment.

Today, we must recognize that the principle has no prejudice. It doesn't matter how you practice, it only matters that you practice. The principle of chiropractic can only live if and when there is an adjustment given. Teach your community the principle, apply an adjustment, and watch the miracles happen.

(Dr. Greg Loman and Dr. Ben Lerner are co‑authors of "One Minute Wellness: The Health and Happiness System That Never Fails," the first book on chiropractic to appear on the New York Times bestseller list. They are founding partners of Teach the World about Chiropractic.)