The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners surprised those present at the July 26, 1990 board meeting. One item on the agenda was a request that the California board issue an opinion on the Vertebral Subluxation Research Institute's (VSRI) controversial Outreach 2000 program.
The Alabama Board of Chiropractic Examiners has already found the program to constitute illegal patient solicitation (please see "Alabama Outlaws VSRI," August 1, 1990 issue of "DC") and has instructed Alabama DCs involved in the program to "cease and desist this activity immediately." California DCs involved in the program were hoping to learn if the California board would also outlaw the program.
But instead of giving an opinion, the California board revealed that the California attorney general's office was in the process of investigating the program. This has been confirmed by a number of other sources that have indicated that VSRI is under active investigation by the attorney general's office. This situation is not unique to California. A number of other state examining boards and attorney generals are also in the process of scrutinizing the VSRI program.
"Such an investigation could have widespread significance for VSRI's activities in California," stated Michael J. Schroeder, a California attorney who represents both the California Chiropractic Association as well as the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners on various matters. "If the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners finds the VSRI program to be illegal, not only will doctors participating in the program be subject to potential discipline, but VSRI itself will be potentially subject to numerous refund suits by its doctor participants."
