Well-Deserved Recognition

It's hard to believe a single event that took place in a chiropractic office more than seven years ago could have so much impact on an entire profession. But such is the way of litigation and politics.

On Jan. 16, the Lewis Inquest coroner's jury came back with the decision of "accidental," even though the majority of experts who testified said otherwise.¹ Chiropractors in Canada are cautiously evaluating how the decision will influence the public, their patient populations and their relationships with other health care providers.

The appeal is already in process.

But to only consider the results of the Lewis Inquest does a disservice to those who literally gave up years of their lives to fight the good fight for chiropractic. And while we are quick to recognize the tireless efforts of Dr. Paul Carey, Jim Duncan, Dr. Greg Dunn, Dr. Jean Moss and Bruce Squires,² there are certainly many others who have committed themselves to our success.

The decision was made several months ago to honor the doctors involved in the Lewis Inquest as our 2003 People of the Year - win or lose. And while we waited for the results before presenting the awards, the ultimate outcome of the Lewis Inquest does not diminish the value of their efforts.

There are many people who go above and beyond for chiropractic. Most are DCs or individuals heavily involved in chiropractic; some are newcomers, who recognize the value and join the fight.

Whatever the case, we, as a profession and as individuals, need to remember to thank, appreciate and recognize those men and women who fight for us. They need to know that they are sacrificing for something truly important. They need to recognize that their efforts are of value not only to us, but to our patients and the health of the world.

Appreciation comes when real people take time from their day to write a letter, send an e-mail or make a phone call. Something as simple as a few simple words of "thanks" can change people's attitudes, especially if the results aren't what was hoped for.

Recognizing a person's commitment can energize him or her to continue the fight or take on a new effort.

Too often, a person's dedication goes unnoticed until he or she leaves or just stops doing the extra things that make the difference. This is why so many of chiropractic's "old-timers" are no longer involved. They didn't get burned out by the challenge, but by the lack of appreciation. Again, this is especially true when things don't go our way.

Chiropractic should have won the Lewis Inquest.

Based on the evidence, the jury should have found that Lana Dale Lewis died of natural causes.

But their decision isn't going to stop us from recognizing those who fought the fight for us.

Thank you - for working so hard for so long, and for giving so freely of your time in the name of chiropractic. Your sacrifice and dedication are greatly appreciated.

References

1. Read "Jury Finds Death of Canadian Chiropractic Patient 'Accidental' on page 1 of this issue for complete details of the Lewis Inquest.
2. These five individuals, and the organizations they represent (the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association, the Canadian Chiropractic Association, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and the Ontario Chiropractic Association), spearheaded the defense of chiropractic and the safety of chiropractic manipulation during the inquest.