This is a (slightly abridged for the blog) letter that was published in “Contact” magazine in May last year before I decided to stand for this years BCA council.
“Dear Editor
Recent and ongoing events surrounding the Simon Singh trial and the resulting omnibus complaints to the GCC have, and will continue to, damage the reputation of the BCA and chiropractic in the UK. Whether it is fair or not does not matter, nor does it matter now whether the legal action should have been taken. It’s now time to look to the future, because if ever there was a crossroads for the profession in the UK, this is it.
I believe there is only one way BCA can minimise and start to repair this damage, and that’s by being bold and leading chiropractic in the UK into the mainstream. The BCA has held itself up as the “gold standard” for chiropractic and supported evidence based care. It should now take a much stronger stance, endorsing only evidence based care. The BCA should insist that its members practice this way, and that its members must not make any claims that treatment helps conditions that are not supported by such evidence.
This would be a very strong message for promotional purposes and I believe would be applauded by some of those who are now turning against us. Of course the BCA should endorse research into other conditions which chiropractic could help, but for which the case remains unproven.
We should state clearly that we are experts in spinal care. The market for it is out there and NICE have just recommended we help provide care on the NHS. If we have a clear message about what we do, we are in a great position to take advantage of the opportunity that is waiting to be grasped. If we confuse ourselves, the public and the medical community with a “broad church” approach, we will not only be unable to take this opportunity, but the profession will flounder and face many more difficulties. This has happened in other countries who chose this approach like the USA, Canada and Sweden.
In Denmark and Norway by contrast, where associations have taken the stance I suggest, the result has been accelerated inclusion in their national health services and acceptance by the public as experts in the field. There has been no loss of identity, quite the opposite, it has been strengthened. It is no coincidence that, in Denmark particularly, the best research into other conditions that spinal manipulation may help such as colic and asthma has taken place.
There will be fear that some members will leave the BCA and join other associations who will support chiropractors who treat subluxations to affect organic disorders. Let them leave and let the BCA and it’s registered chiropractors be the “gold standard”.
This reform needs to occur immediately, and if it does, there can be a silver lining to the cloud that is currently threatening our future.
Richard Hollis”
