July 2007

Calif. Assn. labels Dynamic Chiropractic coverage 'irresponsible'

The California Chiropractic Association (CCA) issued a statement on May 10, criticizing Dynamic Chiropractic (DC)  (and MPA Media for a "special alert" they released addressing two state measures relating to the Chiropractic Initiative Act.

According to the organization, the alert "contained information known by the publication's publisher and company president to be blatant misrepresentation of the facts. Indeed, the only purpose the alert served was to spread unsubstantiated rumor that will only serve to undercut the chiropractic profession's, the state chiropractic association's and state's chiropractic colleges' ability to address these bills."

In its statement, the CCA said it the "special alert" falsely claimed that CCA and ICAC have not taken a strong oppose position or done anything to fight two legislative proposals, SB 801 by Senator Mark Ridley‑Thomas, D‑Los Angeles, and AB 1137 by Assembly Member Mike Eng, D‑El Monte, which would allow the Legislature to amend the Chiropractic Initiative Act (the "Act").

"Apparently, DC will go to any lengths to increase readership, even if the misinformation turns doctors against the only organizations fighting these attacks on the Act," the organization's statement read. "Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this article is not the misrepresentations they contain, but the very basic fundamentals of responsible journalism violated by Petersen (publisher Don Petersen) and his publication. Those basic fundamentals include checking sources and providing the opportunity for those being reported on to comment on a story."

The CCA's statement also noted that, before the article was published CCA explained the measures to Mr. Petersen and directed him to CCA's Web page that contains the April 18, 2007, letters CCA sent the Legislature in opposition to both measures and other related information. "Petersen was told at that time of the actions of CCA in opposing these bills and was provided the opportunity to obtain a written list of those actions," the organization noted. He was also told of CCA's 2007 Legislative Conference on May 8, 2007, at which 250 doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic students swarmed the state Capitol delivering CCA's message of opposition to SB 801 and AB 1137.

"Most shocking was the suggestion in the article that, given these bills, the insurance industry was plotting to make doctors of chiropractic secondary providers ‑‑ a suggestion the article itself admits is unconfirmed," the CCA communique explained. "The insurance industry has not ‑‑ nor the California Medical Association for that matter ‑‑ testified at any of the four legislative hearings involving these bills or the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners (BCE)."

The CCA also complained that, "The chiropractic profession has been victimized countless times in its history by such unverified reporting, as evidenced by the recent Sacramento Bee articles on the profession. Such irresponsible reporting is generally done to incite a storm to sell newspapers or to enhance viewer ship. You can imagine CCA's surprise and shock to find the DC article contained so many fabrications known to Petersen and the use of the worst in gossip columnist‑type reporting techniques."

The CCA has worked closely with the ICAC and the presidents of all four chiropractic colleges in California to minimize the damage to the profession that was caused by the recent turmoil at the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. "For the first time in decades, some of the best minds in California's largest chiropractic organizations are working side‑by‑side to analyze the impact, challenges and opportunities presented by the most recent legislative proposals to allow amendments to the Act," the group explained. "All agree that if the profession is to win, they need to present a united front to the Legislature."

As currently drafted, the CCA states, the two bills are a significant threat to this great profession. "What DC doesn't appear to recognize is that if the forces behind this bill are successful in tearing this profession apart, they will surely win. A fractured profession will not be able to fend off these attacks. This is a serious time for serious minds and serious discussion. It is not the time for hysterical accusations with baseless foundation."

The CCA also pointed to many of the actions it and the ICAC have taken to ensure the bills are amended to protect the interest of all licensed chiropractors in the state. The complete list, as well as in‑depth information on the issues, is available on the CCA's website, www.calchiro.org.