At their most recent convention, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates were presented with Resolution 210: "Comprehensive Examinations by Chiropractors." This resolution specifically addresses the issue of comprehensive physical examinations of truck drivers and licensed pilots. Physical examinations are a certification requirement under state and federal statutes for drivers of heavy trucks, and for anyone who pilots an airplane.
This resolution specifically opposes "the performance of comprehensive physical examinations by chiropractors which require the examiner to diagnose the presence or absence of medical conditions"; and called for the AMA to "develop model legislation for use by state medical associations to limit the performance of comprehensive physical examinations to licensed doctors of medicine and osteopathy."
The original resolution reads:
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Resolution: 210 (I-96)
Introduced by: Minnesota Delegation Subject: Comprehensive Physical Examinations by Chiropractors Referred to: Reference Committee B (Robert D. Burnett, MD, Chair)
Whereas,
Numerous state and federal statutes require certain individuals, such as truck drivers and licensed pilots to undergo comprehensive physical examinations in order to be certified for the safe operation of heavy trucks and airplanes; and
Whereas,
Chiropractors are not trained to diagnose serious medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory dysfunction, epilepsy or any other condition that could lead to the loss of consciousness; and
Whereas,
The statutes regulating the scope of practice of chiropractic vary from state to state; therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That the American Medical Association oppose the performance of comprehensive physical examinations by chiropractors which require the examiner to diagnose the presence or absence of medical conditions; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the AMA develop model legislation for use by state medical associations to limit the performance of comprehensive physical examinations to licensed doctors of medicine and osteopathy.
Fiscal Note: No significant fiscal impact
But before it could be voted on, this resolution was replaced by another more politically correct one. The substitute resolution never mentions chiropractic, but the intent is still the same.
The report from the meeting states:
"The committee heard unanimous testimony in support of the intent behind Resolution 210. The committee recommends what it feels is an even stronger statement in opposition to the inappropriate intrusion into the practice of medicine that chiropractors and other allied health practitioners are advancing in the states."
This "even stronger" resolution was adopted by the AMA House of Delegates (HOD):
RESOLUTION 210 -- COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BY APPROPRIATE PRACTITIONERS RECOMMENDATION A:
Mr. Speaker, your Reference Committee recommends that Substitute Resolution 210 be adopted as follows:
RESOLVED, that AMA policy support the position that performance of comprehensive physical examinations to diagnose medical conditions be limited to licensed MDs/DOs or those practitioners who are directly supervised by licensed MDs/DOs; and RESOLVED, that AMA actively work with the state medical societies and medical specialty associations, both in the courts and in the legislative and regulatory spheres, to oppose any proposed or adopted law or policy that would inappropriately expand the scope of practice of practitioners other than MDs/DOs.
HOD ACTION: Substitute Resolution 210 is adopted with title change.
