May 2007

Calif. governor steps in to clean up licensing board

After months of turmoil and complaints from state and national organizations, Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped in to begin re‑organizing the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The Governor's actions were the first step in ending the bureaucratic staff corruption that plagued the embattled Board.

The situation was brought to light by a series of complaints against Board staff members filed by the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) as well as the California Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractors Association of California.

Numerous complaints were directed at Maggie Craw, a paid consultant to the Board who was accused of overstepping her authority to harass certain doctors of chiropractic. An independent investigation, commissioned by the WCA, revealed that Craw had abused her position by singling out chiropractors based on her own personal and professional biases.

In particular, it was disclosed that Craw targeted chiropractors who hold that the purpose of chiropractic is to detect and correct vertebral subluxations, misalignments in the spine that interfere with normal nerve transmission through the body. Recent research has indicated that subluxations have detrimental effects on health and may be linked to a variety of health conditions.

The WCA investigative report also revealed that Craw had been concurrently employed by an insurance company that reviewed claims submitted by chiropractors. Craw ‑‑ in her capacity as a consultant for the Board ‑‑ could then order those doctors to be investigated by the Board. The disclosure of this conflict infuriated the chiropractic community and led to outcries for her removal. The new Board immediately launched its own investigation of Craw.

"There was definitely an anti‑chiropractic bias among certain members of the Board's staff," stated Terry A. Rondberg, DC, president of the WCA. "For instance, it was learned that Dr. Craw was a member of a fringe group that has publicly denied the validity of subluxation‑based chiropractic, which is the foundation for the entire profession. To have someone like that running a licensing board hurts the profession and denies the public access to a valid health alternative."

The WCA submitted several formal complaints and worked with prominent state leaders to expose the problems plaguing the Board. Its efforts were instrumental in convincing Gov. Schwarzenegger to step in and appoint new members to the Board that would restore public confidence to the agency. The new Board met on March 1 to start the housecleaning by firing Catherine Hayes, the Board's executive director.

"California is fortunate to have a governor who understands the health care needs of its citizens," Dr. Rondberg stated. "He's widely recognized for his commitment to health care and chose highly qualified individuals recognized for their chiropractic expertise as well as their integrity."

Some newspaper articles implied that the main complaint against the Board was that it over‑regulated the chiropractic profession. Dr. Rondberg denied this, saying that the Board didn't over‑regulate the profession, but applied existing regulations in an arbitrary and biased manner.

"The Board was, in essence, being run by two or three rogue staff members, who took actions without the knowledge or consent of the Board members," he explained. "These staff members were abusing their authority by singling out doctors who chose to offer subluxation‑based chiropractic to their patients. This didn't fit into the view of chiropractic held by members of Board's staff, so they were repeatedly harassed and threatened."

Complaints filed by the World Chiropractic Alliance against Dr. Craw chronicled several specific cases in which complaints were filed by Board staff members against doctors despite a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing. Ultimately, the WCA commissioned San Juan Capistrano attorney Carlos F. Negrete to complete an investigation and report, which he and Dr. Rondberg presented to the Board.

Soon after the WCA filed its complaints, numerous California doctors came forward to corroborate the accusations. One stated that Dr. Craw appeared to be a "power drunk bureaucrat, in over her head and enforcing her whim rather than thoughtfully using the law to protect the people of California and improve the profession." Another noted that she "enjoys employing Draconian measures to intimidate her own profession rather than doing what her profession has paid her to do: investigate and assess fairly the charges made against chiropractors."

Dr. Rondberg commented, "It was obvious that the Board was in disarray and not serving its rightful function to protect the people of California by overseeing the chiropractic profession in a fair and responsible manner. For the Governor to step in and correct the situations was a bold and courageous move that demonstrates his dedication to providing the best possible health care to the people of this state."

Rondberg gave much of the credit for the changes to Negrete, who represented the World Chiropractic Alliance and oversaw the complaint process. Negrete is a well‑known health‑care rights attorney and the only lawyer in America who has defeated the notorious anti‑chiropractic leader Stephen Barrett and his "Quackbusters" group in court five times. "Mr. Negrete understands the intricacies of chiropractic profession and is the first to stand up to protect DCs who are under attack either from outsiders or from those within our own profession."

The World Chiropractic Alliance pledged its commitment of support to the Governor and the newly installed Board and their corrective actions.