No Research, No Advertise

The FTC Sends a Message

Imagine the nightmare of having to deal with a federal enforcement agency like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

• You have to hire a very expensive, specialized attorney just to talk to them.

   

• They have all the time and money they need to stretch out the inquiry for years.

   

• They control the first 4-6 years of the appeals process should you decide you don't like their decision.

While the IRS looks at individuals, the FTC is apparently looking at claims made about chiropractic in general. Their review of the claims made in the brochures published by Dr. Koren brings into focus the cold reality of just how what kind of impact the FTC could have on our ability to tell the chiropractic story.

Imagine being forced to justify everything you told people about your experiences as a doctor of chiropractic. Even though you were relating an actual experience with one of your own clients, you would still be concerned.

Sound far-fetched?

Perhaps.

Perhaps the FTC will only look at the Koren brochures and will only question those claims where the research is lacking. But this seems unlikely.

Most people that we have consulted with believe there will be additional inquiries. There is a general sense that sooner or later, the chiropractic profession may have to take on the FTC in the same way that it had to take on the American Medical Association.

It seems more than coincidental that this same issue of Dynamic Chiropractic should contain a call for DCs to participate in a study that is looking at the prevalence of chiropractic for "nonªmusculoskeletal complaints." From my point of view as a chiropractic patient, this is exactly where chiropractic should be expanding its research agenda. My own personal history of chiropractic care includes many more episodes on nonªmusculoskeletal problems. Wellness was my reason for being a chiropractic patient.

Chiropractic is ready to blossom into all areas of human health. With low back pain as just the beginning, an aggressive research campaign will take us beyond headache and whiplash on to asthma, colic and more.

If we can add the wellness element to our complaint-specific research, then we will demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic from both points of view. It can and must happen.

But all this is, unfortunately, dependent on us. There are no drug companies ready to fund our research. There is a little bit of federal money available, but the vast majority of chiropractic research is still funded by our chiropractic colleges that are all very tuition-dependent.

If we are going to see it happen, we must be willing to make it happen.

Through over 13 years of perseverance, we won our chiropractic World War I -- the war (lawsuit) against the AMA.

It would appear that World War II has now begun. The nuclear weapons of this war are solid research studies and aggressive public relations. These weapons will back down the FTC and any other agency that may see chiropractic as vulnerable.

In the midst of trying to run a successful practice and support your family, never lose sight of the need to do your part in chiropractic's fight for sovereignty. It may include national and state association membership; supporting your college annually and in your will; or giving money each year towards specific research.

Whatever it is, you must do your fair share. It is part of your responsibility as a doctor of chiropractic.