1- Petition Summary:

I have received chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations in my spine and/or support the right of others to receive such service from a chiropractor.  

I feel that it is imperative for chiropractic to remain the largest natural, drug-free healing profession and the second largest healing art in the world, and that myself and future generations have access to the same benefits that I and millions of others have received. 

The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), by arbitrarily changing their Standards and their removing of chiropractic’s basic core descriptors and principles without regard to the objections within the profession, will be jeopardizing the future of this type of care and has violated section 602.21 (c) (3) of the U.S. Dept. of Education’s (USDE) Criteria for Recognition.

Violations of sections 602.13, 602.14 and 602.15 have also been noted in the expanded document below.

I am asking that this issue be seriously evaluated by my elected or appointed public officials and all those that oversee the US. Dept. of Education ensures that appropriate action be taken. 

2- What is this all about?

The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) is the agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for accreditation of programs and institutions offering the doctor of chiropractic degree in the United States. Last year, the CCE made drastic changes to their Standards document which removed basic core chiropractic descriptors such as “vertebral subluxation” and “without drugs or surgery.” The profession responded with a reported 4,000 complaints regarding the removal of these terms yet the CCE disregarded the input from the doctors, colleges, associations and students.

3- Why is that important?

Removal of these key terms, especially “without drugs or surgery,” will allow for an extremist group within the profession to pursue the addition of prescriptive rights and surgical procedures. They have been working towards this for many years and wish to create a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DCM) program to teach these medical practices, circumventing the current necessary steps of separately receiving an MD, DO, or ND degree. Recent legislative attempts have been made on a state by state basis and will continue to happen unless a chiropractic standard has been set by the profession.

4- How will this affect my ability and the ability of future generations to receive chiropractic care?

Initially it may have very little effect if you are already under the care of a chiropractor that does not seek the addition of drugs or surgery. However, over time, or as you and your family members move away and are in need of a new chiropractor, your ability to find one that practices chiropractic in its unique, natural form will diminish. The education of future generations of chiropractors would become more and more medically based until the practice of chiropractic would potentially become unrecognizable from physical therapy or physical medicine. A very similar process occurred in the profession of osteopathy. Now nearly identical to medical doctors, osteopaths once had a very natural approach to health and today have identical scopes of practice to medical doctors.

5- What is wrong with chiropractors prescribing drugs and performing surgery?

The problem is threefold. First and foremost, chiropractic is an all natural approach to health, healing, life and well-being that by its very nature is drug and surgery free. Chiropractic’s value to the world lies in its unique offering and natural option for the population.

Secondly, chiropractic is distinct and separate from the practice of medicine as evident by their unique approaches and legal scopes of practice. The practice of medicine is a valuable and life saving profession. The training of competent medical doctors requires extensive education and practical residency programs. The education of competent chiropractors is equally rigorous, however, it requires knowledge and skills that are particular to the practice of chiropractic. Chiropractors practicing medicine is a danger to the public as the educational system is not designed for the adequate training and experience a professional needs to prescribe potentially deadly medications.

Finally, an ideal healthcare system, like the construction of a house, requires a team approach. The electrician is called in to run the electrical components. The plumber does the plumbing. Effective healthcare is no different. Your chiropractor serves as a valuable component of your team to help keep you healthy and assist in restoring your quality of life. Your medical doctor can best assist you with acute crises and helping to stabilize a condition while your body works towards healing as you make positive lifestyle changes. Using the healthcare system in this way can potentially lead to significant savings for you and your family as well as the entire nation.

6- If you need to read more:

FAQ by the PUBLIC & PEOPLE RECEIVING CHIROPRACTIC CARE 
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