The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the New Mexico Court of Appeals, supporting the expertise of chiropractic physicians in that state and their right to self-determination.
ACA was compelled to file the brief after the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) joined forces with the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy and the New Mexico Medical Board in a December 2011 memorandum to the court, requesting a halt to efforts by the New Mexico Board of Chiropractic Examiners to create an advanced-practice training and certification program for chiropractic physicians.
In making its argument in favor of allowing New Mexico chiropractic physicians to chart their own course in this matter, ACA's brief informs the court about the extensive educational background and training that chiropractic physicians receive today from accredited U.S. chiropractic colleges.
The brief also points out that ACA is the nation's largest and preeminent chiropractic professional association, and that its long-established policy has been to recognize that local doctors are best equipped to determine matters of scope.
"It is ACA's opinion that the New Mexico Board of Chiropractic Examiners should be given the same respect as other state boards and allowed to determine what is best for chiropractic physicians and patients in that state. We object in particular to actions by the ICA, as well as the state's pharmacy and medical boards, to interfere with the will of chiropractic physicians in New Mexico and the needs of their patients," said ACA President Keith Overland, DC.
It is uncertain at this time when the court will make its final ruling on the issue. For more information, visit www.acatoday.org/NMbrief.
Source: American Chiropractic Association
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