December 2007

Chiropractic 'victims' group airs TV spot

The Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Group (CSAG) has launched a television advertising campaign asking the question, "Have you been injured by a chiropractor?" The TV commercial then provides contact information for so‑called chiropractic "victims" to seek information and support.

According to the organization, the commercial "is part of an overall effort (including print and outdoor advertising) to make the public more aware of the risks of chiropractic treatment."

The commercial has been aired on two Connecticut television stations, and is also available at the group's website, chiropracticstroke.com and on YouTube.com.

"We believe this will be an effective way to let more people know that we are here and that we can help," said Amanda Thompson of CSAG. The organization claims to represent the interests of hundreds of members across the country.

Possibly to stave off a negative response by the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) or other chiropractic organizations, the group claimed that "In spite of our members' injuries we are not anti‑chiropractic. We only want people to understand the risks before they seek chiropractic treatment and to help those who have already been injured."

In the past, the organization has run its "Have you been injured by a chiropractor?" ad on billboards, Bridgeport (Conn.) municipal buses, and in print media. After an outcry by the chiropractic profession, the billboard leasing company pulled the ad. To fight the bus ads, the WCA retained well‑known health care freedom attorney Carlos F. Negrete to explore possible legal action against the city of Bridgeport and the sponsoring group. No reports of bus ads have been received in recent months.

The press release distributed to announce the television spot admitted ‑‑ possibly inadvertently ‑‑ that chiropractic is extremely safe. "CSAG is aware of at least seven deaths in the U.S. this year alone," the group announced without giving any specific documentation to back up this claim. In contrast, it is estimated that more than 200,000 people in the United States die each year due to potentially preventable, in‑hospital medical errors, making it one of the leading causes of death in the country.

Embracing its role as "victim," the group also complained that "The multi‑billion dollar chiropractic industry has responded to the organization's public education efforts with a well‑funded smear campaign of intimidation and misinformation."

Press releases distributed by the WCA in response to the group's campaign cited data of several published research reports to back up its position.

"We have been the subject of misinformation for decades," stated Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA president. "When we respond, we always document our claims so no one can legitimately say we are being less than honest and accurate."

In a second announcement issued by the organization, Thompson states: "CSAG is dismayed at the chiropractic community's response of preferring not to inform patients apparently out of fear some people might decide against chiropractic treatment if they were informed. Sadly, the chiropractic industry remains more concerned about protecting profits than protecting their patients. One must ask the question 'what are they afraid of?'"

Dr. Rondberg countered that the idea of "warning" patients about a reaction that is so rare as to be considered, even by most medical researchers, to be statistically insignificant, is absurd.

"Can you imagine a medical doctor issuing warnings against the very real and much greater risks of taking aspirin?" he asked. "The risk of stroke from a chiropractic adjustment has been estimated at less than the risk of being hit by lightning or mauled by a shark."

Another "victims" group, Victims of Chiropractic Abuse, Inc. (VOCA), also based in Conn., recently issued a customized postage stamp label bearing the likeness of Linda Solsbury. VOCA contends that Solsbury suffered a stroke after receiving chiropractic care. Ironically, she died in 2006 during a medical operation which was supposed to relieve her symptoms.

"They cannot silence us," Thompson said. "Their attempts to divert attention from the facts will not succeed because this is an issue of patients' rights."

Rondberg said his organization will continue to counter the false impression given by the ad campaign with public education material that documents the scientific facts about chiropractic.

"We sympathize with anyone who has suffered a devastating health problem like a stroke," he stated. "But it's sad that some people seek to lay the blame at chiropractic's doorstep even when chiropractic has been proven to be extremely safe. We feel strongly that knowledge is the key to understanding and the WCA will persist in its education and awareness campaign."