Image: ABC. By medical reporter Sophie Scott.
Health authorities have told chiropractors to stop advertising claims that they can physically manipulate patients to treat diseases, infections and childhood illnesses.
The Chiropractic Board of Australia issued the directive after the ABC revealed a number of clinics were advertising claims they could prevent caesarean births, treat diabetes, cure cancer and even fight the flu.
In a letter to be sent to all chiropractors, the Chiropractic Board said it was “concerned about a number of practitioners who were making claims in advertising that there is a relationship between manual therapy (e.g. manipulation) for spinal problems and achieving general wellness or treating various organic diseases and infections”.
“Or that spinal problems may have a direct role in various organic diseases and infections,” it added.
Of particular concern was the number of treatment claims in advertising relating to infants and children, the board said.
“Claims suggesting that manual therapy for spinal problems can assist with general wellness and/or benefit a variety of paediatric syndromes and organic conditions are not supported by satisfactory evidence,” the statement said.
“This includes claims relating to developmental and behavioural disorders, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders, asthma, infantile colic, bedwetting, ear infections and digestive problems.”
The chair of the Chiropractic Board of Australia, Wayne Minter, said the statement was squarely directed at practitioners who were not toeing the line.
“Our position is unequivocal — false and misleading advertising is unacceptable,” Dr Minter said on Tuesday.
“Chiropractors must ensure they are doing the right thing in their practice and in their advertising. They must adhere to the requirements of the law and the Board’s standards, codes and guidelines.
“We are writing to all chiropractors in Australia to make sure they are aware of this statement released today.”
The issue was first raised by Dr Ken Harvey of Monash University, who published an article in the Medical Journal of Australia calling for the Chiropractic Board of Australia to be sacked because of its failure to deal with complaints and enforce advertising laws.
No Place For Vaccine Advice: Authorities.
Chiropractors have also been warned that they should not display, promote or provide materials, information or advice that is anti-vaccination in nature.
Under the code of conduct for chiropractors, “all chiropractors have a responsibility to promote the health of the community through disease prevention and control, education and, where relevant, screening,” the Chiropractic Board said.
If patients request information about vaccination, they should be referred to an appropriately qualified health professional for advice, according to the statement.
The Chiropractic Board of Australia is standing by its record of protecting patient safety, saying it commonly takes regulatory action against practitioners for breaches of national standards, including:
- Successfully prosecuting two cases in 2014 of individuals who were not registered chiropractors but were presenting themselves as being registered
- Imposing conditions on the registration of 14 chiropractors
- Issuing 10 cautions, and
- Cancelling/suspending the registration of one practitioner.
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This post originally appeared on ABC News.