Editor's Note: The following is excerpted from DC columnist Dr. James Edwards' upcoming article in our October issue.
As a chiropractic expert on many malpractice cases for both plaintiff and defense lawyers for over a decade, I've discovered there is a huge problem with asking a new patient to sign an informed-consent form in the reception room before he or she has ever visited with the doctor. For example, many informed-consent forms ask the new patient to sign a document that has the following or similar language:
I have had the opportunity to discuss with my doctor the nature and purpose of chiropractic adjustments and other procedures and understand that spinal manipulation involves the doctor placing his or her hands on my spine and delivering a quick thrust or impulse to the involved area(s). I also understand and am informed that, as in the practice of medicine, in the practice of chiropractic there are some risks to treatment including, but not limited to: fractures, disc injuries, strokes, dislocations, sprains, soreness, and physical therapy burns. I understand and comprehend all such risks and complications, and realize that alternatives to care might include medical treatment, surgery or doing nothing. I, by my signature below, confirm and accept care, and therefore consent to and agree to those treatments deemed necessary by my doctor to be in my best interest.
To be perfectly honest, that type of an agreement by a patient in the reception room is as worthless as the paper it is written on unless and until the patient has had the opportunity to actually "discuss" the benefits, risks and alternatives to chiropractic treatment with the doctor and then give informed consent. So, if you think you are protected by your reception-room form, you are not!
What is the proper way to meet the standard of care of a reasonably prudent doctor of chiropractic when obtaining informed consent? At some point early in the process, have a "knee to knee" verbal discussion with the new patient about the benefits, risks and alternatives to chiropractic, and then obtain verbal consent to proceed. That is the first step.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
