Chiropractic leaders of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago have reacted strongly to what it considers outside interference from the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA). Their concern is a letter written to Patrick A.M. Manning, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago by the WCA. The WCA letter was sent without contacting the Chiropractic Association of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT), and without an understanding of the current situation regarding chiropractic in that country.
Because of CATT's strong relationship with the local government, the prime minister, instead of acting on the WCA's letter, sent it to Learie Graham, D.C. for his advice and action (please see page 5 for a copy of the WCA letter and Dr. Graham's response).
To exacerbate matters further, an article titled "Project Trinidad 'Chiropractic Care for All' seeks participants, donations" appeared in the December issue of the WCA Journal.
Reacting to the WCA article and letter, President Graham said that "chiropractors in Trinidad and Tobago were appalled" by the WCA's article. The WCA article stated: "Project Trinidad needs help bringing philosophy, science and art of chiropractic to people who know little or nothing about it."
"This statement is completely rejected by the Chiropractic Association of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT), said Dr. Graham. "CATT is governed by a 58-page constitutional document that is the sole authority for chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago. Chiropractic is recognized by viable portions of our population as a profession separate and distinct form medicine. In fact, chiropractic has had a presence of over 60 years in Trinidad and Tobago. Many battles were won in court and chiropractic is now stronger than ever.
"CATT is the sole voice for chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago. We are affiliated with the World Federation of Chiropractic and presently anticipating full legislation for chiropractic.
"CATT enjoys unprecedented popularity among the population and the chiropractors mentioned have been promoting chiropractic on a national level over the past three years. We emphatically refute all the statements made by this article."
The Chiropractic Association of Trinidad and Tobago
The officers of CATT are a testimony to the diversity and dedication of chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago.
As a group, CATT states that it has undertaken massive chiropractic educational programs directed towards corporations, schools and colleges, athletic and social clubs, as well as presented lay lectures, and educating the public about chiropractic via the media.
CATT is a member of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC). The WFC is an organization that includes in its membership the national associations of almost every country in the world where chiropractors practice. In the United States, both the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractors Association are members.
The WFC was created to establish a world forum for the chiropractic profession, where the sovereignty of chiropractic in each country would be respected. The WFC has become the focal point to present chiropractic to the world health community.
David Chapman-Smith, Esq., secretary general of the WFC, had this reaction to the WCA fiasco:
"The basic principle upon which the World Federation of Chiropractic was established in 1988, was that it would respect and encourage all national member associations worldwide to respect the sovereignty of national chiropractic associations within their own countries.
"Many national member associations, particularly in Europe and Latin American, first joined the WFC to gain an international forum in which to stop often well-intentioned activities by U.S. chiropractic entrepreneurs in their countries which were naive and harmful to the development of chiropractic.
"It is amazing and quite inexcusable that Dr. Rondberg, his organization, or any other chiropractic organization, should suddenly start direct communication with the government of Trinidad and Tobago without contacting chiropractic leaders or the chiropractic association in that country.
"Dr. Rondberg is well aware of the fact that there is a WFC and that it has the membership and support of national association of chiropractors throughout the world. If he had bothered to call the WFC, he would have discovered the fact that there was a chiropractic association in Trinidad and Tobago.
WFC policy, established in 1990, and well publicized, includes the following policy on notification of international projects:
-- Any chiropractic organization should, prior to the initiation or pursuit of any educational, research, clinical or other chiropractic activity in another country, first contact the World Federation of Chiropractic for its representative for the world region or regions in question, in order to explain the nature of the proposed project, and should maintain communication with the Federation, informing it of progress.
"There has been flagrant breach of that policy," said Chapman Smith.
"The WCA and Dr. Rondberg clearly have no understanding of international relations or diplomacy at all. What is particularly disturbing about their actions is the clear and calculated way in which they are presenting a straight chiropractic platform to a foreign government. The letter in question goes so far as to say: 'Chiropractic doctors do not diagnose or treat diseases.' This was said to the government of Trinidad and Tobago precisely at the time that the local association was negotiating for first ever chiropractic legislation based on the right to diagnose. It is hard to think of anything more irresponsible and harmful to the profession.
"The WCA is in fact a small, inconsequential Arizona organization that has no moral right to use the word "World" at all. It should stop acting like an international pirate. How would Dr. Rondberg feel if chiropractic leaders in Mexico or Japan or the state of California started dealing directly with the Arizona legislature behind his back?"
There is apparently a great deal of concern in Trinidad that the efforts of the WCA are to introduce and propagate (SCASA) straight chiropractic in a country that has to this point been united (as stated in Dr. Graham's response letter).
The WCA was contacted in an attempt to discover if this was in fact their intention as suggested by their letter and to provide the organization with an opportunity to present their side of this incident.
While the WCA refused to comment on their involvement in Trinidad and Tobago, WCA President Terry Rondberg, D.C. recently sent Dynamic Chiropractic a lengthy paper regarding issues involving the FSCO and to a lesser extent SCASA. In a section titled "My Feelings about Straight Chiropractic", he stated:
"Every political and business action I've ever taken since has been guided by what I felt would be best for straight chiropractic. I started the FSCO (Federation of Straight Chiropractic Organizations) of Arizona and even ran the Western Regional office of the FSCO out of my home for years. I served on the board of the FSCO and was honored by them for my dedication to straight chiropractic. I fought hard in my own state to help get legislation passed that would allow graduates from straight colleges to practice here."
Dr. Graham sees the WCA's interference as "a move to discredit and destroy chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago" and condemns their intention. "We completely reject the notion of this article. Chiropractic is strong and growing and well in Trinidad and Tobago, the 'land of the humming bird.'"
Dr. Graham concluded: "Chiropractic can do without them. The Rondbergs of this world must be stopped. They seem to know nothing about principles or ethics."
Letter from WCA to Prime Minister Manning
Dr. Patrick A.M. Manning, M.P.
Office of the Prime Minister
Ctrl Bank Twr, Eric Williams
Independence Square
Port-of-Spain
Trinidad/Tobago
Dear Dr. Manning, M.P.
I am writing to request information concerning the health care system in your nation. I represent the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) which is the fastest growing international organization representing doctors of chiropractic around the world.
As you may know, chiropractic is the second largest primary health care field in the world. More than 50,000 doctors practice this natural form of health care in the United States and in 50 other nations. An estimated 15 million people see chiropractors each year, and about 7,500 students are enrolled in chiropractic colleges around the globe.
Scientific research is producing mounting evidence that spinal adjustments can help to achieve and maintain better health in all people. Chiropractic doctors do not diagnose or treat diseases. Nor is it our goal to become a substitute for proper medical care. However, it is our hope that we can provide health care services which will complement medical treatment and improve health.
To foster closer ties to the health care officials in your country, we would like to distribute the Wyndham Conference Document to them. This document represents the standards of care for the straight chiropractic profession.
Would you please supply us with the names, titles, and mailing addresses of key individuals who, in your opinion, might benefit from receiving copies of this document?
In addition, we are providing scholarships to selected residents of your country who would like to study chiropractic. Our future plans call for opening of several chiropractic colleges around the world. Which government, health or education officials should be contacted to discuss these programs in more detail?
Thank you for your assistance with these important projects. I look forward to hearing from you soon and to working with you more closely in the future.
Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.
President, World Chiropractic Alliance
Chandler, Arizona
Response Letter to WCA from Dr. Graham, CATT President
Dear Mr. Rondberg:
Your letter dated September 2, 1992 to Mr. Patrick Manning, our Prime Minister, has been forwarded to me. Let me say in the clearest possible terms that the Chiropractic Association of Trinidad and Tobago is shocked by the content, naivete, and impertinence of your letter. It has the potential to completely upset a campaign for chiropractic legislation in my country that is at a sensitive point in time.
Firstly, on what basis do you presume to write to the government of another country without consulting the chiropractic profession in that place? You must be aware of the World Federation of Chiropractic, and communication with that organization, of which my association is a member, would have given detailed information on chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago, and my name and address for consultation. You are obviously unaware that during the past two years CATT and World Federation of Chiropractic have worked closely together in an effective campaign to bring about the first ever chiropractic legislation in Trinidad and Tobago. Negotiations are far advanced. This is the worst possible time for any confusion caused by outside intervention.
Secondly, your letter makes extremely damaging statements about chiropractic. One example is your comment that "Chiropractic doctors do not diagnose or treat diseases." My association's case for legislation is founded upon the ability to diagnose and the right of primary patient contact. A second is your reference to "A straight chiropractic profession." We do not wish to import this American problem, and confuse the government as to the identity of chiropractic.
CATT represents all chiropractors in practice in Trinidad and Tobago. I would be grateful for your early reply confirming that the WCA recognizes that CATT is the proper authority with respect to chiropractic in Trinidad and Tobago, and that the WCA will make no further contact whatsoever with the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Learie Graham, D.C.
President, Chiropractic Association
of Trinidad and Tobago
Newton, Trinidad, W.I.
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