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Canadian Chiropractic Association threatens neurologists

Dan Ovsey

The Canadian Chiropractic Association is threatening legal action against a group of neurologists in Canada if they do not retract a statement outlining the dangers of chiropractic neck manipulation.

More than 60 neurologists received warning letters, including Brad Stewart for his comments published in the National Post last month. The letter also threatened the doctors' accreditation with hospitals.

"The implications of such actions could be significant vis à vis your professional obligations as well as your standing and accreditation with hospitals," said Mireille Duranleau, president of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, in her letter to Dr. Stewart.

The accusations angered the neurologists implicated, as well as other doctors opposed to chiropractic practices..

"I honestly think they're going to regret this," said Dr. Stewart. "They're just trying to scare the hell out of people by forwarding this letter."

The letter disputes a news release issued by the doctors last month, which expressed their concerns with the practice of neck manipulations.

"Most of the recommedations [in the news release] are actually directed at physicians," said Dr. Stewart. "This is not a direct attack on chiropractict, it's trying to raise the awareness of the dangers of [neck] manipulation."

Dr. Stewart was also accused of attempting to influence the outcome of an inquest into the death of Lana Dale Lewis, a 45-year-old woman who suffered a stroke three days after receiving neck manipulation from a chiropractor.

Most chiropractors use this method of extending and rotating the neck to relieve pressure on the nerves caused by a misaligned spine. Chiropractors believe neck manipulations can resolve countless ailments.

Many doctors and scientists reject neck manipulation, claiming it to be a possible cause for damage to the nerves and arteries in the neck, stroke and death.

About 10 million neck manipulations are performed on Canadians by chiropractors each year.

Although the CCA's letter states its position on the neurologists' news release, it does not specify which statements it found defamatory or innacurate.

Dr. Stewart said he has no intention of retracting any of the statements made in the news release. "If they're going to sue us, I'd like to know what basis they're going to sue us on," he said. "No one is going to retract this [news release]."

Chiropractic practices have also raised concerns among pediatricians who object to the CCA's promotion of neck manipulation for infants and newborn babies.

Murray Katz, a Montreal pediatrician, was outraged by the CCA's letter. "This threat is obscene," he said. "What's wrong with neurologists getting together and saying, 'We want everyone to know there's an issue here'?"

Dr. Katz said that he also felt the letter was unclear and did not explicitly explain the statements the CCA disagreed with. "I have no idea what part of the statement they didn't like," he said. "I'ts unbelievable that this is the way that people who are supposedly responsible would respond."

The debate on the safety of chiropractic has been raging for a decade, and includes controversy over York University's proposal to establish a chiropractic college. Tempers on both sides are expected to flare next month when the inquest into Ms. Lewis's death begins.

The article above was copyright by the National Post.