On December 13, 1991, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts voted 8-6 in favor of using the term "chiropractic physician" to refer to DCs in the state of Kansas. Special recognition goes to Dr. Rex Wright, Dr. Ron Zoeller, Dr. Mark Hatesohl, and the attorney for the Kansas Chiropractic Association (KCA), Steve Dickson for their efforts in obtaining this favorable vote.
The resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS the Board of Healing Arts has considered the issues surrounding the terminology "chiropractic physician" on several occasions, and
WHEREAS the Board of Healing Arts voted on a resolution concerning the use of the terminology "chiropractic physician" on December 6, 1990, and
WHEREAS the Board of Healing Arts has the benefit of the experience of the information produced during the course of the litigation, Malmstrom et al. v. Board of Healing Arts, Shawnee County District Court case number 91-CV-388, and
WHEREAS the decision in Malmstrom et al. did not find specific legal authority which would specifically permit chiropractors to utilized the term "chiropractic physicians," and
WHEREAS there appears to be nothing in state law which would specifically prohibit chiropractors from utilizing the term "chiropractic physician," and
WHEREAS during the last 34 1/2 years chiropractors have used the term "chiropractic physician" without any complaints ever having been filed with the Board of Healing Arts alleging a violation of the Healing Arts Act by virtue of the use of that term. It is therefore resolved;
THAT chiropractors licensed to practice in the state of Kansas may refer to themselves as "chiropractic physicians" so long as the modifying term "chiropractic" is used in conjunction with the term "physician." Such utilization of the terminology does not constitute a violation of the Healing Arts Act. However, chiropractors are specifically prohibited from using the term "physician" without designating themselves as "chiropractic physicians."
