Fight for Chiropractic in Brazil has Global Importance

As reported in the March 26 issue of this publication, in a new threat to the independence of chiropractic, physical therapists in Brazil, Peru and other countries in South America are lobbying governments for laws making chiropractic a specialty and part of the physical therapy profession.

In these countries, PTs are numerous and recognized by legislation. They see pioneering chiropractors and their patients pushing for recognition of the chiropractic profession. Their response is to claim that chiropractic is part of what they do. In Brazil, for example, there are 95,000 PTs and their licensing body, COFFITO, has supported new short-term postgraduate courses in chiropractic for PTs; started an advertising campaign in the media claiming chiropractic is a specialty of PT; and is fighting to undermine the legislative campaign of the 125 members of the Brazilian Chiropractors' Association (ABQ).

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), whose 87 member national associations include the ABQ, has commenced an international fundraising campaign to help the Brazilian chiropractors in their David-and-Goliath battle against the PTs - and to stop Brazil from becoming the first country in which a government decides chiropractic is not a separate and distinct profession. Any such decision would have obvious danger for the profession elsewhere in Latin America and internationally.

"The WFC urges all chiropractors and chiropractic organizations to support our fellow chiropractors and the profession in Brazil," said WFC President Dr. Gerard Clum. "The ABQ has draft chiropractic legislation and the support of some senior legislators, but there is a major battle ahead and the WFC would like to raise $100,000 to help fund that battle."

"Major thanks to the British Chiropractic Association and the Danish Chiropractors' Association for early donations of $20,000 and $10,000 [respectively]," said Dr. Ricardo Fujikawa, a Palmer graduate who is ABQ president and represents the Latin American Region on the WFC Council. "This is exactly the type of generous support we need to succeed against COFFITO and the PTs."

For more background information on the campaign for Brazil, and to make your donation to help, go to www.wfc.org and visit the newsroom. You will see what the Brazilians are doing to help themselves, and how donated monies are being collected by the WFC and then paid out to reimburse approved and verified costs. [Editor's note: As mentioned, DC reported on this situation in the March 26 issue. Read "No Carnival for Brazilian Chiropractors" online at www.chiroweb.com/archives/25/07/14.html.]

Chiropractic has been growing rapidly in Brazil since the opening of two university-based chiropractic colleges in the late 1990s - Feevale Central University in Novo Hamburgo, in partnership with Palmer College; and the University of Anhembi Morumbi in Sao Paulo, in partnership with Western States Chiropractic College. The legislation to protect chiropractic and being promoted by the ABQ was approved by a third and final parliamentary Commission in late November 2006 and must now go back to the full house or Camara for final vote. It is being stalled by legislators working with the PT profession, while PTs are providing short courses in chiropractic to try to create a competing chiropractic profession.

It is important for chiropractors everywhere that the profession wins this battle. Make your donation now, and then tell someone else to do the same.