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Stop chiropractic neck manipulation! Canadian regulations must be changed!
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Laurie Jean & Lana Dale Memorial Moratorium
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April 30, 2004 - Across Canada press conferences were held by the families and their supporters to demand an immediate stop for all chiropractic high neck manipulations. The chiropractic regulators across Canada have failed to voluntarily halt this useless and dangerous procedure. There have been two inquests that found that the chiropractors were at fault. There have been numerous lawsuits over the years, and yet the procedures continue with the blessings of chiropractic associations and regulators. Governments that cover chiropractic still pay for this procedure. The families are supported by pediatricians, neurologists, and other experts who have seen the chiropractic regulators dance around any thought of meaningful self-regulation.
Press release - April 30, 2004
Go to Chiropractic Neck Manipulation Page on ChiroWatch for more
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`We couldn't do anything to bring our sister back. But what we
could do was try to achieve justice for her.'
Wendy Abrams
The Lana Dale Lewis jury delivered its verdict on January 16, 2004. They said that her fatal stroke was an accident. This means that the neck manipulation was the direct cause of her death. It's too bad that the lawyer for the chiropractors just doesn't believe in our justice system.
Closing arguments by Amani Oakley - December 10, 2003 - This is one of the most succinct legal arguments ever made. Please download or link to the entire transcript.
.html format
.doc format - 91 pages in Word.
Tim Danson's scrum after the inquest - In our opinion what he said outside the courtroom about the inquest could be grounds for a serious complaint to the Law Society of Upper Canada.
CBC radio coverage includes interviews with Lana's family and the chiropractor's attorney Tim Danson.
CTV - Health coverage - watch the videos.
Avis Favarro's report on the News at 11 with Lloyd Robertson. Listening and watching their bully lawyers push the cameramen out of their way, and Tim Danson's bizarre rant is worth the price of admission folks. Pass the hat, these guys are to need a lot of money to stop the steamroller created by the result of this inquest.
Jury deals blow to chiropractors Toronto Star - Jan. 17. It seems that Tim Danson's comments are more than just rhetoric. Are they grounds for a serious complaint to the Law Society?
Law Society of Upper Canada rules for lawyer as advocate
4.01 (1) When acting as an advocate, a lawyer shall represent the client resolutely and honourably within the limits of the law while treating the tribunal with candour, fairness, courtesy, and respect. They may not:
"knowingly attempt to deceive a tribunal or influence the course of justice by offering false evidence, misstating facts or law, presenting or relying upon a false or deceptive affidavit, suppressing what ought to be disclosed, or otherwise assisting in any fraud, crime, or illegal conduct;"
Communication with the Public
Rule 6.06 (1) Commentary
Lawyers in their public appearances and public statements should conduct themselves in the same manner as with their clients, their fellow practitioners, the courts, and tribunals. Dealings with the media are simply an extension of the lawyer's conduct in a professional capacity. The mere fact that a lawyer's appearance is outside of a courtroom, a tribunal, or the lawyer's office does not excuse conduct that would otherwise be considered improper.
A lawyer's duty to the client demands that, before making a public statement concerning the client's affairs, the lawyer must first be satisfied that any communication is in the best interests of the client
Were Danson's comments in the best interest of the chiropractic profession when he called the jury's decision as "perverse", and that, "The verdict and this inquest represents a travesty of justice"?
Search Google news for inquest information
Suggested Videos for Chiropractors
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Lana Dale Lewis Inquest
ALERT!!!!!
Michael Coren Show
Amani Oakley vs. MP who is a chiropractor
Tuesday - February 3, 2004
10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
James Lunney, DC, MP just loves Dr Terry Polevoy's book about those bloody "Pig Pills"
CTS bans Michael Coren show shots
CTS - the producers of the Michael Coren show does NOT like ChiroWatch because we captured pictures of the stars of the show. No I don't mean Michael Coren. I mean we placed screen shots of James Lunney and Amani Oakley with comments. CTS refuses to provide copies of their broadcasts to any citizen. They don't archive their shows. They don't provide transcripts. Unless hell freezes over, and that is unlikely at this fundamentalist evangelical Christian-based organization, they will respond only to a government or court order. They asked me to remove the pictures. What I will do is leave my comments, and remove the pictures. Should anyone wish to view this show in its entirety, let me know. This web site is an extension of my living room. Su casa, es mi casa as they say in Spanish. The show has been preserved in its entirety. You to can here James Lunney, an elected Member of Parliament, and a chiropractor, blame Mrs. Mathiason's daughter's death, not on the chiropractor, but on herself. Believe it or not, that's basically what he said.
So, please send me five good reasons why you need to have CTS save copies of their shows, and I will pass these on to Rob Sheppard and Dick Grey. Better yet, why don't you tell them what you think of their policy yourself.
Contact CTS via e-mail: cts@ctstv.com
Here are some of the captions to those banned images.
- Where friends and foes face-off for a nice winter's chat.
- Who killed Lana Dale Lewis was perfectly clear to at least one of them.
- Lunney tells Coren that Health Canada had the simple answer to prevent strokes years ago.
- Why it's folic acid!! Duh.
- Amani Oakley makes Lunney an offer that he can't refuse, a lifetime subscription to the Skeptical Inquirer, a Round trip ticket to see James Randi, and the Chair of Irrational Science at Life University in Marietta, Georgia.
- Lunney still says that 2 + 2 does not equal 12 million. He's a graduate of the Tim Danson School of Mathematical Improbability, or Basic Chiropractic 101 for Dummies
- What was it in Tim Danson's notes that I was supposed to talk about?
- Ah yes, how many foreign neuropathologists does it take to screw the Lana Dale Lewis family?
- Chiropractor Lunney, his eyes closed in a type of Network Chiropractic charade, tries his best to prove that he can help anyone play a better game of cat's cradle.
Comments
Amani Oakley - attorney for the family of Lana Dale Lewis
As I'm sure you know by now, we won a stunning victory, on every count. We
got the verdict we wanted (accident) and the recommendations we wanted.
I want to explain about the verdict, because the chiropractors are already
trying to spin the result.
An inquest jury in Ontario can only find one of five one-word verdicts:
homicide, suicide, accident, natural causes and undetermined. They cannot
actually point the finger of blame to anyone, so it is not open to them to
make a finding of "death from a chiropractic manipulation".
However, they were clearly instructed by the Coroner and other counsel that
if they were convinced that the cause of Lana Lewis' stroke was as a result
of the neck manipulation, this would be a traumatic origin of the stroke,
and their verdict would be 'accident'. If they believed that the stroke she
died from, was as a result of her lifestyle, health condition, etc., then
the verdict would be 'natural causes'. If they were not sure which of the
two it was, then their finding would be undetermined.
NO ONE was confused about this, as can be seen by the transcripts of the
closing arguments delivered by all the lawyers.
The recommendations are also extremely positive, and the jury adopted a
number of the proposed recommendations I put forward to them. For example, I
asked for, and received a recommendation to create a data base (by the
Ministry of Health) to collect all incidents of adverse events associated
with neck manipulation, and these incidents must be reported by
chiropractors, doctors, physiotherapists and Coroner's Offices. I asked for,
and received, tighter requirements for informed consent for neck
manipulation, including the requirement that patients receive an information
page to take home with them, and that patients get told of what symptoms to
look for that might signal a stroke or injury has occurred. I asked for, and
received a recommendation that OHIP not pay for any manipulation unless the
chiropractor notes the condition being treated for the manipulation, and the
type of manipulation being utilized. If it is one of the 200 named
techniques, they must identify the technique by name. If it is a
modification of a named technique, they must describe the technique in
sufficient detail that other health practitioners can understand the
technique that was utilized.
To say we are delighted is a serious understatement. The jury came through
with flying colours, and saw through the b.s. thrown at them throughout the
inquest.
Danson, for CMCC and CCA, has already pronounced that this is a "huge
travesty of justice" and indicated he would bring a judicial review to quash
the jury verdict. If they want more adverse publicity, this would certainly
be the way to go.
I couldn't be happier for this long-suffering family.
Amani Oakley
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More comments by Amani Oakley on inaccurate reporting, especially by CP (Canadian Press). Apparently they didn't understand the word "accident" in the context of the inquest.
This CP news story was replaced with another one after I spoke with the
reporter. He clearly did not understand the inquest process, and did not
understand what the finding of "accident" meant. It was not AN ACCIDENT. It
was death by what means: accident. In other words - NOT NATURAL CAUSES. The
jury was instructed by Coroner's Counsel, that if they found that trauma was
the cause of the clot found inside the vertebral artery of Lana Dale Lewis
(rather than atherosclerosis, which is what the chiropractors had argued)
then their verdict would be "accident". If they agreed with the
chiropractors, then their verdict would be "natural causes", and if they
weren't sure, then their verdict would be "undetermined".
Some of the media coverage was disappointing because the reporters did not
understand that the jury HAD FOUND a traumatic basis for the stroke, and
that is why they went with the verdict of accident. The stories seemed to
suggest that despite finding that the cause of death was "AN accident",
NONETHELESS the jury wanted the link between neck manipulation and stroke
explored.
I had a frustrating evening trying to explain the inquest system to
reporters who hadn't been in attendance for any part of the inquest except
the final verdict.
Amani Oakley
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Dr. Sam Homola, DC and noted author and authority on chiropractic
Despite evidence indicating that cervical manipulation can result in injury to vertebrobasilar arteries, many chiropractors continue to deny that such treatment can cause stroke. Retrospective studies of the literature have not revealed the true incidence of manipulation-related stroke, which might be higher than presently realized since such injuries have not yet been fully recognized and reported. Until definitive cause-and-effect studies have been done, and a special effort is made to detect cases of stroke caused by neck manipulation, no one will know for sure how often such devastating injuries occur. But it's enough to know that neck manipulation can be dangerous. And since there are few appropriate indications for such treatment, it should be done only when absolutely necessary in carefully selected cases. Chiropractors who routinely manipulate the neck of every patient they see to "correct subluxations" or as a "preventive maintenance" measure are placing their patients at great risk. While informed consent is essential anytime neck manipulation is done, informed consent does not justify inappropriate or unnecessary use of neck manipulation. When chiropractors manipulate the necks of asymptomatic patients or for reasons based on the chiropractic vertebral subluxation theory, risk always outweighs benefit.
Samuel Homola, D.C.
Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD
Newton, Massachusetts - President NCAHF
Accidental, which in the list of outcome choices for the coronor's inquest means "non-intended", may be the case, but, death or stroke from unnecessary neck twisting where a vertebral artery or two is torn is predictable, and, no "accident".
The same illogical terminology, "accident", is often applied to "car crashes", a better term to describe them. The words "auto accident" imply that the car crash was "no one's fault", which is characteristically anything but the truth.
An "auto accident" where someone who is quite drunk, runs a red light and hits a pedestrian and kills them is no "accident", any more than the crash where someone who is speeding and can't stop when traffic stops, and then "rear-ends" a vehicle causing fuel tank rupture, fire and death, or the case of ejection of a child through the windshield who was not secured in a child-seat when a car hits a road sign; etc. , etc. etc.
Chiros often compare the rate of strokes/deaths from neck twisting with the complication rate from appropriate medical care, such as the infection rate from an emergency appendectomy. This is absurd. The fact that many necks are twisted and only some stroke or die misses the point. The procedure is unnecessary, unsupported by physiological/biological plausibility, and regularly produces morbidity and mortality in a predictable way.
The legitimate medical community stops doing procedures with no proven benefit. In the case of neck twisting, the chiropractic organizations and their apologists keep trying to deny there is a problem. Multiple studies and collected statistics belie their position.
Continuing to do something which is demonstrably unsafe, and unnecessary, can only be described as negligent behavior. All the consent forms in the world won't change this fact.
Bob Baratz
Murray Katz, M.D. - April 2001 - The Brown Envelope Affair
When Murray Katz was not allowed to be a witness for the family, Tim Danson tarred him very badly and somehow pulled the infamous "brown envelope" out of a hat. While Dr. Katz has not yet commented publicly about the decision, it is worthwhile looking at his original comments.
Cause of Death - Letter from Dr. Katz - December 1999 in response to Celia Milne's Globe and Mail story that seemed to slough-off results of inquest into the death of Laurie Jean Mathiason in Saskatoon.
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Blow by Blow
- Weekly inquest summaries by the Canadian Chiropractic Association - They will have a response to the verdict on Saturday, January 17. Well almost.
- It took them until March 25, 2004 before they issued this wonderful response.
- Ontario Chiropractic Association - no comments at all on their web site about the jury's decision. In fact their discussion about the entire inquest is almost invisible. But, you can entertain yourselves by watching their clever TV ads. Wow, what a great source of useful information! NOT
- SCCA - Student Canadian Chiropractic Association - no mention of the inquest, or of the problems with cervical neck manipulation.
- CAC - Chiropractic Awareness Council hasn't updated their web site and still say that neck manipulation doesn't cause strokes. I don't lose sleep over these folks. Their head once e-mailed me and asked me how many kids I injected with monkey pus today!!
- Gregg Dunn's speech at Palmer Chiropractic University The speech was given by Dr. Gregory Dunn during an appearance at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2003. As chief operating officer of the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association, Dr. Dunn offered his insights into the Canadian government's inquiry (the Lewis Inquest) into the incidence of stroke associated with spinal manipulation.
- Canadian Chiropractic Association and CCPA joint press release in October 1998 re: Laurie Jean Mathiason inquest. She died after chiropractor's neck manipulation caused sudden death. Here is what they had to say:
The jury did not make a finding
that chiropractic treatment was the cause of this tragedy.
- Chiropractors refute fatal stroke theory - October 22, 2002
Carey testified that reports by neurologists "exaggerating" the danger of strokes caused by chiropractic treatments have scared away so many patients that some practitioners have been forced to leave the profession.
Others chiropractors report they are losing from 15 to 30 per cent of their incomes, Carey testified. The impact has cost Canada's 6,000 chiropractors an estimated $100 million in the last 18 months, he said.
- Patient looked `fine' after therapy - Toronto Star - Oct. 4, 2002
Chiropractor who treated Lewis testifies
The chiropractor who treated Lana Dale Lewis 17 days before she died of a stroke says no alarm bells went off in his mind as she walked normally from his office after her last treatment.
- Woman heard ringing in the ears - Toronto Star - Sept. 12, 2002
Hospital staff noted repeated complaints after neck treatment
Lana
Dale Lewis repeatedly complained to hospital staff about headache, neck pain
and ringing in the ears following her final chiropractic neck manipulation,
an inquest into her death has heard.
- Woman complained of `hurt neck,' inquest hears - Toronto Star - Sept. 10, 2002
Wife mentioned pain just after trip to chiropractor.
Six days before Lana Dale Lewis was admitted to hospital with a debilitating stroke, she complained to her husband that her chiropractor had hurt her by reaching over and cracking her neck in an unusual way, an inquest into her death has been told.
- Woman had vision problems after seeing chiropractor
- Toronto Star - Sept. 10, 2002
Severe headache also followed manipulation, inquest told.
Patient was `distraught' after chiropractor visit. A woman whose family believes she died of a chiropractic neck manipulation wept on the phone about intense neck pain on the day she received the
treatment, her sister told an inquest into her death.
- Chiropractic: Risk or relief?
- Toronto Star - July 10, 2002
The battle lines are drawn as an inquest into the fatal stroke of Lana Dale Lewis resumes today.
Wife mentioned pain just after trip to chiropractor.
When the coroner's inquest into Lana Dale Lewis' 1996 death resumes today it will reignite the debate over the risks of chiropractic neck adjustments.
The battle lines are clearly drawn.
The family has its witnesses ready, and if it's shown that a neck manipulation was to blame for the 45-year-old woman's fatal stroke, it will be demanding public warnings about the practice.
Chiropractors are also anxious to call their own experts to prove that adjustments are safe, and that any increased risk of stroke is minute. And for them, this battle is for their livelihood, plain and simple.
- Woman wept in pain, sister tells inquest
- Toronto Star - July 3, 2002
Patient was `distraught' after chiropractor visit. A woman whose family believes she died of a chiropractic neck manipulation wept on the phone about intense neck pain on the day she received the
treatment, her sister told an inquest into her death. Lana Dale Lewis' sister, Judy Ford was grilled by Tim Danson, and was apparently prevented from reading a prepared statement by the coroner's counsel, Tom Schneider. In tears, she said the six-year wait for the inquest has taken a heavy toll on the family.
"The inquest is about money and chiropractics. That's all it's about,"
- MDs want neck manipulation banned - Toronto Star - June 4, 2002
A majority of doctors want to ban chiropractic neck manipulation because they believe the small risk of death is not worth the
benefits of its "placebo effect" on patients, a neurologist has told an inquest into the death of an Etobicoke woman.
- Woman on job after treatment - Toronto Star - June 26, 2002
Lana Dale Lewis, whose family believes she died as a result of a chiropractic neck manipulation, was at her job as a production line worker the week after
she received the treatment, a former supervisor testified yesterday at the inquest into Lewis' death.
- April the cruellest month for Canada's chiropractors - CMAJ June 11, 2002 -
Brad Mackay
"..the inquest probably poses the most serious threat to chiropractic's credibility because of the saturation media coverage it has received — in the Toronto area there have been dozens of newspaper and broadcast reports."
- MDs want neck manipulation banned - Toronto Star - June 4, 2002
A majority of doctors want to ban chiropractic neck manipulation because they believe the small risk of death is not worth the
benefits of its "placebo effect" on patients, a neurologist has told an inquest into the death of an Etobicoke woman.
- Stroke victim often off sick - Toronto Star - May 29, 2002
A woman whose family believes she died as a result of complications after a chiropractic neck manipulation booked off work
for illness so often her employer was threatening to fire her, an inquest has heard.
- Death likely caused by brain swelling - Toronto Star - May 28, 2002
The head of neurosurgery at St. Michael's Hospital says it's likely a woman's death 17
days after a chiropractic neck manipulation was caused by a brain swelling unrelated to
that treatment.
- Stroke surprised woman's doctor - Toronto Star - May 23, 2002
The family doctor of a woman who died in 1996 from a stroke 17 days after a chiropractic
neck manipulation acknowledged to an inquest jury that he was surprised when he learned
she had passed away.
- Stroke victim had long list of ailments - Toronto Star - May 22, 2002
A woman who died from a stroke after chiropractic neck manipulation had experienced chronic pain, headaches and anxiety for years, an inquest jury was told yesterday.
- Stroke specialist testifies at inquest - Globe and Mail - May 17, 2002
One of every 100,000 Canadians suffers a stroke each year as a result of neck manipulation, a coroner's inquest has heard
- Inquest into stroke bogs down - Globe and Mail - May 16, 2002
Strange twists and turns continue to bog down the coroner's inquest that is looking at a possible link between chiropractic manipulation and the fatal stroke of Lana Dale Lewis.
- Doctors differ over chiropractic - Toronto Star - May 16, 2002
Neurologist tells jury patients `feel better` after neck therapy - A Sunnybrook hospital neurologist says he doesn't share the views of a Montreal doctor who helped a family bring a lawsuit in the death of a woman who died 17 days after a chiropractic neck adjustment.
- Clogged artery caused death - Globe and Mail - May 8, 2002
Conclusion that neck manipulation caused fatal stroke was wrong, pathologist. "We were wrong," Michael Pollanen told a coroner's inquest yesterday. "In
retrospect, our conclusions were erroneous."
However, he was using the royal we. His mentor, John Deck, strongly disagrees. Crown Attorney Schneider took Dr. Pollanen to task for not reviewing literature on neck
manipulations and strokes before concluding they were linked.
- We were wrong - Toronto Star - May 8, 2002
In November, 2001, neuropathologist Michael Pollanen wrote a report to the coroner withdrawing his original conclusion and
substituting a finding of death by natural cause. Pollanen said Deck's theory of subtle arterial
injury inside and outside the skull from chiropractic manipulation remains "a possible explanation." However ,
when pushed hard by Schneider, he characterized that hypothesis as "improbable."
- Doctor insists chiropractic to blame for death - Toronto Star - May 7, 2002
Dr. John Deck, the seasoned coroner's pathologist who has blamed a chiropractic neck adjustment for
the 1996 death of Lana Dale Lewis, has taken days of pounding at a coroner's inquest. Lawyers Tim Danson, Brian Foster and Chris Paliare, acting for various chiropractic interests, have
tried hard to paint the retired University of Toronto professor, who has participated in about 10,000
autopsies, as unscientific in his methods and biased against chiropractic.
- Blunders brought to light at inquest - Globe and Mail - May 4, 2002
A heart destroyed. A coroner's file missing. Autopsy evidence
discarded.
These are among a bizarre series of circumstances uncovered during an inquest into the death of a
45-year-old woman. They suggest that there may have been bungling by officials within the Toronto
coroner's office.
- Scott Haldeman takes the stand - Toronto Star - May 2, 2002
Coroner Barry McLellan admitted Haldeman as an expert witness over objections from Lewis family
counsel Amani Oakley, who called him an advocate for chiropractic. Haldeman said about 70 per cent of his
work as an expert witness is in defence of chiropractors, but he has testified for others against
chiropractors.
- CCA says evidence reveals Coroner's office called meeting with chiropractic
representatives in 1996 - Press Release by CCA - April 30, 2002
- Pathologist in hot seat at inquest - John Deverell - Toronto Star - April 30, 2002
Chiropractors' lawyers question his authority- Lawyers for chiropractors are mounting a vigorous challenge to the credibility of Dr. John Deck, a forensic pathologist who
supervised the autopsy on stroke victim Lana Dale Lewis. (Then Tim Danson, the lawyer for the chiropractors, pulled out his ace in the whole, he went for Murray Katz.)
"Murray Katz is the most outspoken enemy of chiropractic in this country," Danson challenged. "You are aware of that and
you associate with him?"
- Therapy led to trauma, stroke: MD - Vanessa Lu - Toronto Star - April 29, 2002
Stretched blood vessels likely tore victim's artery - John Deck, the pathologist who took part in the autopsy of Lana Dale Lewis firmly maintained his position that he believed her fatal stroke was linked to a
chiropractic neck manipulation.
- Doctor resists lawyer's attack on stroke theory - Shannon Kari - National Post - April 27, 2002
Dr. John Deck, a neuropathologist, strongly disagreed with suggestions by Tim Danson, lawyer for the Canadian Chiropractic
Association and the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, that the 45-year-old Toronto woman died
of natural causes. "Migraines are not relevant to this case, nor whether she took her high-blood-pressure medication," he
said. "I don't believe [Lewis's health problems] put her at greater risk at any one moment, but it put
her more at risk over her life."
- Inquest hears of missing heart due to transplant - Gay Abbate - Globe and Mail - April 27, 2002
A discarded heart may forever be the missing part of the puzzle into what
caused a stroke that killed Lana Dale Lewis in 1996.
A coroner's jury looking into the 45-year-old's death heard yesterday that
her heart was removed for organ transplant following her death. While the
valves may have been donated, nothing was done with the rest of the heart
for almost 90 days following her death, at which point it was destroyed.
- MD challenged at chiropractic inquest - Gay Abbate - Globe and Mail - April 26, 2002
A pathologist was repeatedly badgered at an inquest yesterday in an attempt
to get him to retract his conclusion that a chiropractic neck manipulation most
likely caused the stroke that killed Lana Dale Lewis.
Tom Schneider, the coroner's lawyer, treated his own expert, Dr. John
Deck, as a hostile witness. He asked questions that challenged the retired
doctor's opinions, and often interrupted him with theories of other possible
causes for the 45-year-old woman's stroke.
- Chiropractic immediately suspected in death - Vanessa Lu - Toronto Star - Aril 26, 2002
The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Lana Lewis admitted yesterday that he had formed the opinion that her death was linked to chiropractic neck manipulation before reviewing all of the pathological evidence. "I had a definitive date for chiropractic neck manipulation. I had a definitive date for a stroke. I had a definitive date for a death. It was highly probable that it would turn out this way."
- Pathologists at odds over stroke death Christie Blatchford - National Post - April 25, 2002
Disagree on chiropractic role in woman's demise - It is one hot potato of an inquest that is taking shape at the coroner's court in central Toronto. It frankly has everything -- immense stakes; duelling pathologists; a dollop of intrigue; powerful interest
groups and a veritable rack of suits, which is to say lawyers -- but at its heart, of course, is Lana Dale Lewis.
So suspicious was Dr. Dhanini that there was a link between Ms. Lewis's visit to her chiropractor and the
arterial dissection that after she died, he notified the coroner's office. Dr. Deck, the leading neuropathologist in the case, is also expected to testify today that he felt pressured -- by the so-called chiropractic community
and even allegedly by officials from the coroner's office -- to soften his findings.
- Christie Blatchford - CFRB - Randy Taylor Show - April 25, 2002
The interview with columnist and commentator Christie Blatchford was a head to head duel between an award winner and a real loser. Christie tried to present today's testimony in an accurate manner, and Randy chimed in with his usual one-sided comments. It's really unfortunate that Randy Taylor just doesn't get it. He parroted the allegations made by chiropractic spokespeople that Lana Dale Lewis must have stroked out because of her habits. His comments were uncalled for, and entirely mean and ugly. Oh, did I mention that he's in love with himself and with alternative practices.
- Chiropractic facts - Globe and Mail - April 25, 2002
Mireille Duranleau, the head of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the chiropractor who authored a letter that threatened a group of 60 neurologists in February 2002, didn't like Margaret Wente's column. This is her answer for what it's worth.
- Horrible Chiropractic Hazards - Globe and Mail - April 23, 2002
Margaret Wente attacked the chiropractic industry with a vengeance. Not only did she address the dangers of chiro neck manipulation, but she reminded the readers of how much chiropractors in Ontario bill for treating newborns, infants, and children. "In 2000, taxpayers forked
over roughly $15-million for pediatric chiropractic treatment."
- Stan Gorchynski, D.C. on Andy Barry's CBC - Metro Morning - April 23, 2002
Andy Barrie took no prisoners. He allowed Gorchynski to stick his foot in his mouth over and over again. The interview started with a defense of subluxation theory by Gorchynski, and he then went directly to a tirade against the 60
neurologists who published a letter aimed at stopping chiros from doing
cervical neck manipulation. Pay attention to Gorchynski's attempt to step around the issues of the Laurie Jean Mathiason inquest back in 1998. Andy didn't have time to ask him who peer-reviewed the chiropractic world.
- Chiropractic treatment at centre of inquest - Francine Dube
National Post - April 23, 2002
In his opening statement to the five-person jury, Tom Schneider, the Crown attorney, said they will hear that two
neuro-pathologists who examined the autopsy findings at first concluded that the death was a result of chiropractic
manipulation, but that one of them later changed his mind, instead attributing the death to natural causes.
- Reports changed, inquest hears - Globe and Mail - April 23, 2002
GAY ABBATE - MD in case of chiropractic patient felt pressed to soften findings, jury told. One of the pathologists who concluded that Lana Dale Lewis's fatal stroke was
likely the result of a chiropractic neck adjustment has recanted his autopsy
findings and the other is saying he was pressed into watering down his report. The inquest, expected to last at least eight weeks, is expected to be bitter, with
the chiropractic community defending the practice of neck manipulation by
shifting the focus to the health conditions that put Ms. Lewis at risk of a stroke,
including migraines, hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol and a family
history of heart attacks.
- Inquest to examine link between chiropractic procedure and strokes - CBC radio
TORONTO - A coroner's inquest starting Monday will examine whether chiropractic treatments may cause strokes and even death. After
more than two years of delays, the inquest into the death of Lana Dale Lewis is finally set to begin. The Lewis family lawyer Amani Oakley believes the inquest will reveal the true risks of chiropractic neck manipulations.
- Lana Dale Lewis inquest set to begin - CANOE.CA
TORONTO (CP) -- A long-awaited inquest into the death of Lana Lewis, a woman who suffered two strokes following a neck manipulation by her chiropractor, is expected to begin Monday.
Lewis, 45, died in 1996, 17 days after receiving the adjustment by Toronto chiropractor Philip Emanuale as treatment for her migraine headaches.
Critics of the practice have warned that it can trigger strokes by damaging the lining of an artery supplying blood to the brain.
- Neck adjustment under microscope
- Globe and Mail
By GAY ABBATE
TORONTO - April 22, 2002 -
It was a killer migraine that drove Lana Dale Lewis to a chiropractor for relief.
Seventeen days later, she suffered a fatal stroke.
- Inquest to probe chiropractic link in death
- Toronto Star April 22, 2002 - Family of Lana Lewis believes neck manipulation killed 45-year-old. The inquest is expected to explore the relationship between the chiropractic neck manipulation Lewis received and the stroke that killed her, said Dr.
Bonita Porter, deputy chief coroner.
The probe is also sure to bring to light the often antagonistic relationship between chiropractors and the traditional medical community.
Lana Dale Lewis Inquest Delays
The oft delayed inquest into the death of Lana Dale Lewis has reached a new bump in the road.CANOE EXCLUSIVES
By Paul Benedetti and Wayne MacPhail -- Special to CANOE
- Missing slides key to inquest - October 18, 2001
When asked for comment by CANOE about where the tissue slides were, the Chiropractic College of Ontario had their lawyer Chris
Paliare respond. He refused to comment on the tissue samples. The refusal to comment raises serious questions about the college's
stated mandate for openness to, and protection of, the public.
- Chiro inquest delayed until next year - October 11, 2001
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Pre-inquest battle to win the hearts and minds
- Chiropractic twists and turns - Michele Mandel - Toronto Sun - April 22, 2001
It has been a shameful search fraught with coroner reversals, Deep Throat envelopes and
stolen e-mails as the chiropractic profession assembles its heaviest artillery to fight an
inquest it fears will place chiropractic on trial.
Meanwhile a lone, patient family is pummelled at every turn.
- Stroke expert demands to know how private e-mail was leaked - CANOE.CA - April 20, 2001 - Wayne MacPhail
A Sunnybrook Hospital neurologist wants to know how
his private e-mail became evidence in a hearing prior to the inquest
into the death of a Toronto woman.
Dr. John Norris is demanding an answer about how a private e-mail
sent he sent to Dr. Murray Katz, a Montreal-based pediatric
practitioner, got into the hands of a lawyer representing chiropractic
organizations at the inquest.
- Tim Danson's little brown envelope - Murray Katz, M.D. - April 18, 2001
This is an open letter from Dr. Murray Katz, a pediatrician
from Montreal who was asked to be the agent for the
family of Lana Dale Lewis, a woman who died in 1996
after she visited a chiropractor. On April 18, 2001 he was removed from Lewis family's team of medical experts. The chilling effect on the case may come back to haunt the chiropractors and their legal experts.
- Doctor dismissed in chiropractic inquest - C-Health April 18, 2001
For possibly the first time in Canada, a coroner has
removed a legal agent from an inquest.
Dr. Murray Katz was dismissed yesterday as the legal representative
for the family at the inquest of Lana Dale Lewis.
The inquest is being held into the 1996 death of the 45-year-old
Toronto woman who died from complications of a stroke after having
her neck manipulated by a chiropractor.
Dr. Katz, a Montreal pediatric practitioner, has been acting as the
family's legal agent free-of-charge since early Feb
- Dr. Katz removed - Globe and Mail - April 19, 2001
In a rare if not unprecedented move, a coroner has removed a legal agent
from
an inquest for inappropriate behaviour before the inquest has even
begun.
Coroner Barry McLellan told Montreal pediatric practitioner Murray Katz
yesterday that he could no longer represent the family of Lana Dale
Lewis at
the inquest looking into her death.
- Search Globe and Mail for Lana Dale Lewis
- Missing heart - arrows thrown at Dr. Katz - Globe and Mail - April 18, 2001Defendent's lawyer wants to know what happened to heart that used to beat inside the body of stroke victim Lana Dale Lewis. They also want to know why Dr. Katz is in the room.
They all had harsh words about Dr. Katz, who sat quietly in his chair,
often shaking his head, as the attacks on him heated up.
They called him a liar, a fraud, questioned his credentials, and accused
him of being a zealot on a mission to destroy the chiropractic
profession. Dr. McLellan reserved judgment on the motion.
Inquest or Whitewash?
- Ads will aim to draw women to chiropractors - GAY ABBATE - Globe and Mail
April 9, 2001
Just as a coroner's inquest is set to explore a possible connection
between chiropractic neck adjustments and strokes in women, an
association representing chiropractors is preparing an advertising
campaign geared to attracting more women patients.
Dr. Norris banned from Lewis Inquest
Canada's leading medical expert on stroke and chiropractic neck manipulation says he's been dropped as a Crown witness for an inquest into the death of a Toronto woman who died after a chiropractic neck manipulation. Stroke expert Dr. John Norris also says the upcoming inquest will be a "whitewash".
Les Limage - Waterloo victim of neck manipulation
- I know neck manipulations cause strokes - Heather Aube - K-W Record - May 7, 2002
I had the two vertebral arteries torn in my neck by a chiropractor on Aug. 16, 1990. My appointment with him was at 9 a.m. By 1 p.m., I was in the
hospital, paralysed on one side and numb on the other. I was 29, not overweight, didn't smoke and I wasn't on the pill.
- Stop neck manipulation - Letter from another victim? - K-W Record - May 2, 2002
- Blame stroke on lifestyle, not a chiropractor - K-W Record - May 2, 2002
Peter Smith practices chiropractic in Waterloo. By calling the patient to task for causing his own stroke is outrageous. You decide if you agree with me or not. If a chiropractic patient is injured by a chiropractor, why didn't the chiropractor who is trained with the utmost of innate intelligence, give Peter Smith the other half of his brain to think this one through?
- Lawsuit filed against Waterloo chiropractor - Francine Dube - National Post - April 29, 2002
- Stroke victim blames chiropractic neck adjustment for his condition Lianne Elliott - The Record - April 27, 2002
- Watch the CTV News promo on chiropractic neck. There are two segments. I suggest you use IE and broadband for this site.
- Click here for text of Les Limage segment
Sharon Stone admits chiropractic neck manipulation could have caused her stroke
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"Really nice to be alive," Stone says - By Ann Oldenburg - USA TODAY
Sharon Stone says she almost died last year when she was hospitalized for
what physicians thought was a brain aneurysm. "We think it's possible that it was an injury from a horseback riding accident,
made worse by chiropractic adjustments," she says.
Chiropractic neck crack can cause strokes:
- Chiropractors spark feud with neurologists - Medical Post - March 26, 2002
The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) has fuelled an existing
controversy by sending a letter to 63 Canadian neurologists criticizing a press release the
neurologists sent out in February. CCA president Dr. Mireille Duranleau (DC), who signed the letter, said the primary
concern was the press release's reliance on data from the Canadian Stroke Consortium.
The letter sent to the neurologists threatens legal action if the neurologists do not respond.
- 60 Neurologists threatened by chiros
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.
- Back Off Chiropractors!! - Time Magazine - Leon Jaroff
Chiropractors have been taking their lumps lately. And not all of the criticism has come
from their usual critics in the medical profession. Indeed, some chiropractors
themselves are cautiously calling for reforms.
Jerry Grod, and his associates, all leading Canadian chiropractic educators reviewed brochures in chiropractic offices and came to this conclusion, "All of the brochures, they wrote,
made claims "that are not currently justified by available scientific evidence
or that are intrinsically un-testable."
- Chiropractic pundit Matt McCoy reacts to Jaroff article in JVSR
So, another negative article about our profession has been published. Once
more it is our own members that hand them the gun, the ammunition and help
them pull the trigger. The question remains: What will YOU do about it? Will
YOU write a letter to Time?
- CBC News Reports - listen to audio and watch video
More than 60 neurologists have signed a
letter warning that chiropractic neck treatment can lead to strokes. They
say if the neck is rotated improperly, a blood vessel can
tear, causing a clot to form.
- Chiropractic strokes tied to young - HealthScout
A trip to the chiropractor might relieve that pain in your neck, but it could lead to
something much worse.
- Stroke linked to neck work - Aaron Derfel - Montreal Gazette -
60 neurologists speak out against manipulation by chiropractors
Dr. Murray Katz is often asked by parents whether they
should send their children to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are increasingly marketing their services to children. A
brochure by the Ontario Chiropractic Association recommends that parents
send their infants to a chiropractor "as soon as possible after birth.
Chiropractic care at an early stage could prevent many common childhood
disorders from developing."
- s warn of chiropractic peril
60 neurologists say neck manipulations are often hazardous; chiropractors reject charge - Brad Evenson - National Post
- 1999 Canadian stroke study
College of Chiropractors of Ontario Newsletter
This recent CCO newsletter, distributed to all Ontario chiropractors, addresses several pressing and important concerns for the chiropractic profession and the public. There are serious problems that are not addressed, and serious errors that suggest that it would be o.k. for chiropractors to practice quackery and endanger the public, as long as they tell their clients that their malpractice insurance does not cover things like iridology or ear candling. The fact that one of these is fraudulent, and the other illegal and dangerous must have gone right by Dr. Allan Gotlib, the apparent author of the newsletter.
- More ChiroWatch coverage of neck manipulation
Chiropractor sued after child paralyzed
Family seeks $2.75 million for 11-year-old son
Paul Benedetti, and Wayne McPhail Special report - Barrie, Ontario
Lawsuit claims that Gary Dyke, a Barrie chiropractor, treated a boy for chest pains after he went swimming. Dyke treated him a number of times with neck and spinal manipulation, yet he failed to x-ray, diagnose or examine child. The boy had a benign spinal tumour which could have been easily diagnosed and treated by neurosurgeons at the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto. The problem is, alleged in the lawsuit, that the tumour was injured because of the spinal manipulation done by Dyke. The boy is now paralyzed from the waist down, and has limited bladder and bowel control.
The Turner lawsuit highlights grave concern on the part of pediatricians across Canada about the chiropractic manipulation of children.
CMAJ articles on cervical stroke risk
- Arterial dissections following cervical manipulation: the chiropractic
experience - Scott Haldeman, Paul Carey, Murray Townsend, Costa Papadopoulos
The only manner in which the real
incidence of dissection following cervical manipulation
can be established and the feasibility of screening patients determined
is to carry out research in which both
chiropractors and neurologists participate. Failure to cooperate in
such research will result in confusing and conflicting
information being given to patients and will reduce the likelihood that
these complications can be avoided.
- Canadian Stroke Consortium update from CMAJ
Collaboration with our chiropractic colleagues is crucial to
understanding and resolving the association between
sudden neck movement and stroke. Blanket denial or distortion of our
data from various quarters can only delay
discovery of the necessary facts at the expense of the well-being of
patients.
- Cervical manipulation and risk of stroke by
Drs. Kapral and Bondy about cervical manipulation with comments on
the Haldeman article:
The study by Haldeman and colleagues provides important data about the
association between stroke and specific
chiropractic interventions. However, the use of malpractice claims data
is unlikely to lead to an accurate estimation of
the risk of stroke. Not all stroke events will lead to claims, and the
same biases in documentation of exposure may be
operating as in the Norris paper. In addition, this study relies on an
estimate of the denominator of cervical
manipulations performed by chiropractors.
Can chiropractic maim and kill? Response to The Times (U.K) article- July 10, 2001
This site questions The Times article
Is the Chiropractic Subluxation Theory a Threat to Public Health? - Sam Homola, DC - SRAM reprinted in Medscape
James Mertz, DC, ACA - rebuttal of Homolas's article
Sam Homola, DC - rebuttal of rebuttal
Stroke victims five times more likely to have visited chiropractor - CANOE.CA - Wayne MacPhail - May 9, 2001
People under 45 who
suffer a stroke are five times more likely to
have seen a chiropractor in the previous week
than a control group, says a new Ontario
study.
The Toronto-based study also indicates that
one in every 100,000 chiropractic neck
patients under 45 years of age will suffer a
stroke.
The study examined 582 Ontario patients who had shown up at
hospital with damage to their vertebral artery.
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Before you get your neck manipulated by anyone check with ChiroWatch.com

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