7 Step Formula To Destroy Chiropractic

By Yannick Pauli (and forwarded to us by numbers of DC’s in Canada)

7 Step Formula To Destroy Chiropractic
or the secret of what ever happened to chiropractic at CMCC?

Hello everyone! Was just reading an interesting piece today. It is an article by Dr. Igor Steinman published in the September 2000 issue of JMPT. This article describes the Residency Programs at CMCC. I found it very explanatory of the situation I perceived while studying there and I thought I would share my mind.

Dr. Steinman explains how, in the early 80’s, a 6 months rotation for CMCC resident was instituted at the University of Saskatchewan under the “benediction” of Dr. W.H. Kirkaldy-Willis, an orthopedic surgeon. He describes how the “success” of the partnership resulted in more departments of the Royal University Hospital being available to Residents for observation and collaboration. Such departments include Rheumatology, Imaging, Neurology and Pain Clinics. Here we get to the “meat of the matter.” I quote (p. 504):

“The residents benefitted from the Saskatoon rotation in terms of increased knowledge, experience and perspective. I believe that the chiropractic profession (at least in Canada) benefitted from the rotation when the residents returned to CMCC. Considering that almost all the faculty members who instructed the students before the establishment of this residency rotation were chiropractors who had graduated from CMCC, IT WAS CRUCIAL TO INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. At first, the consequent challenging of chiropractic concepts and practices by returning residents caused turmoil and introspection. FUNDAMENTAL TENETS SUCH AS THE EFFECTS OF SPINAL SUBLUXATIONS, the validity and reliability of spinal palpation, and the role of chiropractic in health care (primary care, primary contact, or musculoskeletal specialist) WERE QUESTIONED. HOWEVER, RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO REPEL THIS ATTACK ON THE STATUS QUO, CMCC ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE BY REVIEWING THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM and by increasing the budget, infrastructure, and the number of personnel for research” [emphasis mine]

Later, in his conclusion, Dr. Steinman states: “Those who went on to obtain and maintain Fellowship (resident having completed the program) status in a chiropractic specialty college ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TEACHING scholarly activities.”

Well, here you have it. Please allow me to contribute to the advancement of the human race by offering Yannick’s Seven Steps Formula For Destroying The Chiropractic Profession. (and please excuse my cynicism):

1. Form chiropractors, a small number of whom will not grasp the magnificence of our science, art and philosophy.
2. Allow that small group to compensate for their lack of understanding, certainty (and self-esteem?) by entering a residency program.
3. Send those few to learn more about “chiropractic” by sending them to study and collaborate with an orthopedic surgeon and other MDs and PhDs.

That will for sure strengthen their grasp of the science, art and philosophy of chiropractic! Important note: Make sure they are far away from their alma mater and not surrounded by too many chiropractors.

4. Have those people come back with their newly obtained different paradigm and let them challenge chiropractic (of which, remember, they know nothing about).

5. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to repel the attack but RISE TO THE CHALLENGE BY CHANGING THE CURRICULUM, in THEIR FAVOR.

6. Optional point (in order to accelerate the process): increase the budget and infrastructure to produce more of those people.

7. MAKE SURE, these people will teach future generations. This will ensure that the upcoming generations will have LESS understanding of chiropractic, indirectly increasing the potential number of would-be residents.

Return to step 1 and continue the process until chiropractic is extinguished or amalgamated within medicine.

This piece is not intended as a personal attack on anyone. I hope that you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it. However, beyond the laugh, we need to see the seriousness of the situation. What will happen to the future of our profession if our educational system is forming people who know less and less about chiropractic? It is our duty to continue to advance our science, art and philosophy the way it was intended.

To conclude, let me quote once more Dr. Steinman: “Presently the residency programs serve an important role in chiropractic, reflecting the maturation of this health care discipline. However, the time has come to formally study the chiropractic profession’s and healthcare system’s requirements for residency programs and their graduates.”

I would agree. But the new requirements have to come from the inside. The requirements are to advance the principles of our profession, because of what those principles, when applied correctly, have to offer the health care system and the people. If we do not define those requirements ourselves, they will be defined for us, and not for the better. So let’s be bold in our vision and take action.

What if a 1000 chiropractors wrote to CMCC telling them it is a time to have a Chiropractic Residency Program where the focus of study would be the vertebral subluxation and its effects on health, wellness and quality of life, as well as the role of chiropractic care in the new emerging bio/psycho/social model?

Thanks for the opportunity of sharing, Have a fantastic day!

Yannick

planetc1.com-news @ 7:49 am | Article ID: 974735395