In the chiropractic profession, unity is a frequent topic of conversation - usually in terms of the dis-unity that continues to keep doctors of chiropractic from their collective potential. Dissention between chiropractic associations and organizations, conflicts between "straights" and "mixers," and debates over the future of the profession are numerous, while all too often, examples of cooperation and collaboration go unnoticed.
Dynamic Chiropractic would like to take this opportunity to recognize professional unity in perhaps its purest form - in defense of chiropractic. DC's 2003 People of the Year are five individuals, representing four prominent Canadian chiropractic organizations, who spent more than two years of participating in the Lewis Inquest: Dr. Paul Carey, Mr. Jim Duncan, Dr. Greg Dunn, Dr. Jean Moss, and Mr. Bruce Squires.
Paul Carey, DC, is the president of the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association (CCPA) and a past president of the Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA). He is also the current president of the World Federation of Chiropractic.
During the Lewis Inquest, Dr. Carey testified that an international task force is currently studying the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of all neck treatments, including the adjustment. (The five-year study is being funded by multiple international funding partners, including the CCPA.) When asked why there is no government funding for the study, Dr. Carey noted that the risk associated with neck adjustment is so low it does not attract government research interest.
Jim Duncan, CAE, is the executive director of the CCA, and the former executive director of the Ontario Chiropractic Association. Mr. Duncan has vigorously defended the right of chiropractors to perform neck manipulations, stating that they have an "enviable safety record" in performing such treatments, as supported by research.
Greg Dunn, DC, is the chief operating officer of the CCPA, formed in 1986 by the CCA to protect its members and the public in the event of professional liability claims. Dr. Dunn is the former chair of the CCA and the Manitoba Chiropractors' Association. He is perhaps best known for instigating a campaign to lobby Canada Post for a commemorative chiropractic stamp in 1995. (Canada Post ultimately issued four stamps honoring D.D. Palmer's 150th birthday, chiropractic's centennial celebrations and CMCC's 50th birthday.)
Jean Moss, DC, MBA, is the president of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). Like Dr. Carey, Dr. Moss also provided testimony during the Lewis Inquest. According to Dr. Moss, the coroner's office initiated a meeting with her and two other members of the chiropractic profession in December 1996 to discuss Ms. Lewis' death. The autopsy was not complete at the time of that meeting, and no examination of Ms. Lewis' arteries had been performed.
Dr. Moss also testified that CMCC subsequently wrote to the coroner's office, requesting that it be advised of the autopsy findings when they were released, but heard nothing more until the Lewis family announced the lawsuit against the profession three years later.
Bruce Squires, MBA, CAE, is the executive director of the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA). Established in 1929, the OCA represents nearly 80 percent of the province's 3,000-plus active chiropractors. Mr. Squires also chairs the Programming Committee of the Canadian Society of Account Executives.
Even though the results of the Lewis Inquest were less then expected, these five individuals, supported by their respective organizations, fought extremely hard to maintain the respect of chiropractic and establish the truth regarding the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care. They spent literally thousands of hours during the 20 months of the inquest and the months before it began on April 22, 2002. Dynamic Chiropractic applauds their courage and commitment to chiropractic and extends its thanks to these five individuals, and the organizations they represent, for fighting for a cause greater than themselves - chiropractic. If everyone involved in our profession displayed this level of sacrifice and dedication, the chiropractic profession would be second to none in the health care arena.
