We Must Agree to Disagree on Certain Issues
Dear Editor:
In response to Dr. Sportelli's article about losing it when one finally has nothing left to lose ["When Will We Realize That We Have Nothing Left to Lose?" Aug. 26 issue], I agree that fragmentation and dissent in chiropractic has led to our current state of affairs: dwindling college enrollment and dwindling organizational membership. If we do not, as a profession, agree to disagree on certain issues, then we will indeed lose it. We must allow our profession to adapt to the medical/chiropractic realities of the 21st century and stop trying to maintain a 100+-year-old philosophical basis that is no longer completely relevant.
We can all stand on opposite sides of the field brandishing sticks at one another; while we are doing that, the PTs and naturopaths will absorb our skill sets and render us redundant.
Cathlynn Groh, DC
Denver, Colo.
Editor's note: The following letter is directed to DC columnist Dr. John Hanks.
Your Articles Make Me Laugh
Dear Editor:
Just wanted to say that I loved your last couple of articles. The one regarding patients seeing other DCs was great; so was the one regarding crazy employees. All the ads seem to talk about DCs seeing 100s of patients, have no stress, take only cash, get everyone to pre-pay, get "sick people well" and "turn the power on." I've always felt like I live in a community with wacky employees and patients with DCs all around me doing "corrective care." Like I'm missing something. Your articles make me laugh and realize I'm not alone. Thank you and I hope DC continues to let you tell the "truth" about how we feel.
Adam Story, DC
Camarillo, Calif.
Change Is Necessary
Dear Editor:
As a recent graduate now practicing in the field of chiropractic, I do think that change is necessary for our profession. We are in an ever-changing world, and for our profession to be restricted poses significant challenges to the advancement of chiropractic. A chiropractic physician should be able to practice as an advanced-practice chiropractic physician due to the significant amount of education, training and preparation needed to be awarded the title of Doctor of Chiropractic.
We are taught in school how to be a PCP and our state boards do not allow us to practice to our fullest potential. If the profession were to be tiered, I would be on the advanced-practice chiropractic physician tier. I would love to practice as I was taught while advancing the chiropractic practice to greater levels in the health care arena.
Michael McLarnon, DC
Stroudsburg, Pa.
To Tier or Not to Tier?
Dear Editor:
Tiering needs to take place in our profession. I fall into the broad-scope group and wish there were a way to distinguish myself from "subluxation-based chiropractors" in the public's eye. I have an orthopedic view; that is what I am using to distinguish myself from traditional "subluxation-based" chiropractors who, in the words of my patients, want them to go "3x/week for 4 weeks, and 2x/week for 4 weeks, then 1x/week for 4 weeks" etc. I'm all for tiering; if there is anything I can do to help pass legislation for this, let me know.
Hans Bottesch II, DC
Bloomsburg, Pa.
