Who Needs Permission?

The American Academy of Pediatricians has recently told its member doctors that they should begin to counsel parents about alternative medicine practices. While chiropractic is not an alternative to anything, except ignorance, the AAP decision brings light to a concern affecting the medical field.

An article from The Virginian-Pilot, a Virginia newspaper, features photos of Dr. Lisa Wynkoop giving spinal adjustments to a 3-year-old while he relaxes on his mother’s belly. The article talks about the pediatric academy’s recent decision and also focuses on several families and the choices they have made regarding their health care.

Among several recommendations made to pediatricians were the following:
– Avoid dismissal of alternative medicine in ways that communicate a lack of sensitivity and concern.
– Guard against becoming defensive.

Interestingly, in the article a pediatrician talks about how they are supportive of their patients decisions, and yet a statement is made that she has concerns for some approaches such as turning to a chiropractor rather than a pediatrician when a child has a fever, or a parents decision not to vaccinate a child.

Dr. Lisa Wynkoop states that “We don’t see this (chiropractic) as alternative or something that’s used instead of medicine.” She further states that “these are separate and distinct disciplines.”

Being that chiropractic is a separate and distinct health care discipline, the profession needs no approval from anyone other than those they care for and provide service to day after day.

Virginian-Pilot: Academy advises pediatricians to be educated on alternatives
ABCNews.com: Doctors Told to Counsel Parents About Alternative Medicine