January 2009

'Stroke' group steps up efforts

The Connecticut-based group responsible for anti-chiropractic billboards and bus advertising has announced that it is dramatically expanding its nationwide advertising campaign with the placement of billboards in some of the largest metropolitan areas in the country.

According to a press release distributed by The Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Group (CSAG), a large billboard asking, "Are you aware there is a risk of stroke with chiropractic adjustment?" has been placed at the intersection of 11th Ave and W. 57th Street in New York City.

The group states that similar outdoor advertising is being put in place in Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver and Cincinnati, allegedly as a result of positive responses to the organization's previous anti-chiropractic messages.

"The American public needs to know that chiropractic adjustments can cause severe injuries, permanent disabilities and even death," said Britt Harwe, founder of CSAG, in the press release. "Our promise to CSAG members is that the awareness campaign will continue to grow in intensity until the chiropractic industry begins the process of meaningful reform."

The announcement also stated: "An expanding grassroots movement is adding to the financial resources available for raising public awareness about the potentially severe health risks of chiropractic manipulation. In the past year CSAG has been able to fund television commercials, print advertisements, transit bus ads and Yellow Pages display ads in New England as well as other regions of the country. Other support groups throughout North America are now implementing similar awareness campaigns.

"Our members nationwide are determined to share with the public an accurate, ethical and responsible message about the health risks of chiropractic," Harwe said.

The group's website reinforces the fear-based message, telling readers: "After undergoing a cervical spinal manipulation, patients exhibiting initial stroke symptoms are dismissed by chiropractors and are assured that these symptoms are 'just a reaction' to the adjustment or that, 'their body is releasing toxins' as a result of the manipulation. Then these patients, exhibiting stroke symptoms, are allowed to leave the chiropractors office! To just drive away… only to have the stroke elsewhere..."

Response to the message was immediate. "Such tactics are outrageous and deplorable," stated Terry A. Rondberg, DC, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA). "Unfortunately, past experience has shown that these groups are one-track minded and apparently backed by well-funded supporters."

Previously, the WCA looked into legal recourse against these groups and was advised by legal counsel that there is little that can be done to prevent organizations like this from taking out such ads. The only effort that did succeed was a massive response by Connecticut doctors who inundated a billboard company with protests. The company voluntarily withdrew the ad. In Bridgeport, Conn., the CSAG purchased a large ad that was displayed on a municipal bus for a short time.

Lacking viable legal options, the WCA flooded the media with press releases that provided scientific proof of chiropractic's safety in regard to stroke. It also prepared a number of documents -- including a position paper -- which doctors can download free from the WCA website.

"The best defense against such campaigns of misinformation is to have documented facts on hand and to make sure the truth reaches as many people as possible," Dr. Rondberg explained.