Asinine antivax action by California chiroquacktors

[Lionel Mandrake]

Here's an excerpt from Melanie Mason's article in today's LA Times:

The California Chiropractic Assn. visited with lawmakers this week to discuss their legislative agenda this year -- and opposing the vaccine bill, by state Sens. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Ben Allen (D-Los Angeles) was on the top of their list.

"Chiropractors themselves choose to become chiropractors because they like to live a more natural lifestyle, free of drugs and surgery when possible," said Brian Stenzler, president of the 2,700-member association.

The idea of "forced medical procedures goes against a lot of chiropractors' own personal values," he added. "When we see our patients, the people we take care of, we like to pass those values on as well."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-vaccine-bill-chiropractors-20150305-story.html

[HuckleB]

1. So they value unethical acts that harm people?

Ugh. These goofballs just never stop making things worse.

[leftofcool]

2. Being free of drugs and surgery when possible is a good idea. Vaccine free is a very BAD idea.

[Rex]

3. I've always heard mixed result from people that go to Chiropractors.

For some reason, I have a feeling that when a chiropractor is in a car wreck and breaks his leg...he goes to the emergency room for drugs and surgery.

[leftofcool]

4. I like my chiro because he does a lot of good

He was also an MD prior to going to chiro school and treats seniors over at his MD office once a week free of charge. He is pro vaccine and only anti specific drugs. He doesn't think much of Ritilin (sp?) for children and thinks boner pills are really bad.

[COLGATE4]

5. I seriously doubt that your chiro was an "MD" before

'going to chiro school'. If he was, I'd certainly want to look into why he no longer has his license.

[Rex]

7. Looks like he still practices and for free!

So he must still have an active MD license yes?

[leftofcool]

10. Yes he does. He is a great guy!

his practice was always a family practice but for some reason he has a soft spot for seniors.

[COLGATE4]

14. You'd have to look it up in the State Medical Licenses.

It still strikes me as not credible that a licensed MD stops practicing medicine but goes back to enroll in "Chirporactic School" (where only a High School degree is needed) to 'learn to do' medical practices that MD's consider to be one step short of quackery. Something isn't computing here.

[leftofcool]

8. He still practices medicine as well

He is right here in my town and once his daughter finished her internship, he turned his practice over to her. He still goes over every Friday to the medical office and treats seniors free of charge. Chiro was just something he always wanted to do in addition to medicine.

[Rex]

6. My mother went to one that she praised, only to heap scorn on another.

One made her back feel really good, the other messed it up. I hear similar stories from other people I know that have been to chiropractors. I bet it helps in your case that the man is also a licensed medical doctor that is still active with patients.

Sounds like a good fella! Doctors that treat for free are saints and needed all over this country.

[leftofcool]

11. He is a saint! I wish I had him for our regular doctor as well but he is in on only Fridays.

[HuckleB]

9. It's a field that should fold and go into Physical Therapy.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/reference/chiropractic/

[Rex]

12. That makes perfect sense.

Also, just me personally, I am leery about going to an unlicensed professional for medical help.

I have a local GP that is an awesome fellow, about my age that will sit and talk with me for 30 minutes about even the small pains. Has his own lab so can do everything for a really great price. He's so good that he has now had to turn away new patients and we have 2 more doctors offices in town.

[Lionel Mandrake]

16. That's an excellent article.

It's nuanced and as balanced as possible, given that the case against chiropractic is overwhelming for those who are scientifically literate.

Chiropractors often see imaginary subluxations on X-rays. IMHO they shouldn't be allowed to take X-rays.

Unfortunately, chiropractors are entrenched and employ lobbyists to look out for their interests.

[HuckleB]

17. We'll never get rid of them.

Hopefully, there will be attempts to improve the practice, and get away from the subluxation nonsense. There are some chiropractors doing just that. But, yeah, the unnecessary X-ray nonsense goes against any thought of "not doing harm."

[REP]

15. I have hypermobile joints

Which means they dislocate or subluxate very easily. Chiropractors - or at least the two I used - are much better at reducing these than ER staff. They also never claimed to be able to treat or cure anything other than the dislocations, though I was given instruction on exercises that would strengthen muscles to help stabilize joints. It's obvious there are many quacks out there, but there's some decent ones as well.