Woman's Day Assaults Chiropractic Pediatrics

If you hated the "20/20" expose on chiropractic pediatrics, you will truly loathe "The Well Adjusted Child" in the June 27, 1995 issue of Woman's Day. This "20/20" ripoff comes almost 17 months after the original, but lacks any real new information.

The Woman's Day article (WD p. 77) refers to and relies heavily on the same information broadcast on the infamous "20/20" report on chiropractic:

• citing a number of the same rare tragic pediatric cases;

   

• referring to 20/20's undercover tactic of sending a child to several chiropractic offices;

   

• focussing on rare adverse outcomes and unusual procedures;

   

• quoting the usual chiropractic detractors.

What this articles lacks in originality, it tries to recoup with new quotes from the usual spokespersons of the National Assoc. of Chiropractic Medicine and orthopractors:

Murray Katz, MD, father of orthopractic: "Nothing has ever been done to show that chiropractic is effective, especially in children."

Ron Slaughter, DC, NACM/Orthopractic Manipulation Society national executive director: "As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as pediatric chiropractic."

Charles DuVall, Jr., DC, NACM/Orthopractic Manipulation Society board member: "We have no hands-on experience treating kids, and no evidence that our treatments work on childhood ailments."

Among those in support of chiropractic pediatrics were R. James Gregg, DC, president of the International Chiropractors' Associations, and well-known pediatrics authority Claudia Anrig Howe, DC. Dr. Anrig Howe had these comments about the article:

"Women make the health care choices of children. This article was politically designed to target women. To my knowledge, neither this author, nor "20/20," nor the Wall Street Journal ever requested any research on chiropractic's effectiveness with children.

"I can't help but question the credentials of Drs. Slaughter and DuVall. As far as I know, they have never published any research studies, contributed to the body of knowledge nor taught any graduate courses in this field of care.

"As this is our centennial year, we must all realize the need to educate the public regarding the benefits of chiropractic care from the pediatric to the geriatric. This is a freedom of choice issue. Parents have the right and responsibility to choose the best health care for their children. It is chiropractic's responsibility to take the stand of our forefathers to insure that freedom of choice is protected.

"As chiropractors, we need to be children advocates. Making erroneous or inaccurate statements regarding chiropractic pediatrics is tantamount to withholding necessary health care."

The Woman's Day report was not authored by a member of the magazine's editorial staff, but written by Marlys Harris, a free-lance writer who usually proffers financial topics. This is the third article Woman's Day has published by her. But regardless of who authored the article, the Woman's Day editorial department chose to publish it. If you feel strongly about this type of one-sided focus on chiropractic, you may wish to contact Woman's Day to voice your opinion:

By mail:

Woman's Day
1633 Broadway
42 Floor
New York, NY 10019

Via fax:

(212) 767-5610

By phone:

(212) 767-6000

If the chiropractic profession feels that it has been portrayed unfairly, it will have to respond and make itself heard. Chiropractors, patients, friends and family need to not only communicate their feelings, but consider situations like this when considering which organizations and products to support with their patronage.