The chiropractic guru: An ethical dilemma?
By Angelica Redleaf, DC

I once studied with a guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He had “the power” —wisdom. His disciples came to him for guidance, which they accepted in awe of the answers he gave to their questions.

We chiropractors also have “the power.” Because we are health professionals, we are the “knowers.”

The ethical dilemma that arises from this power is this: Should we set ourselves up to be guru-chiropractors? Is there a danger in doing that?

Once patients come to us, it is we who create the relationship. Our patients are forced to move into the role that matches our role.

What kind of role do we assume? Let's look at a "doctor style" continuum that demonstrates doctor-patient relationships:.

DOCTOR STYLEs

Guru -> Lecturer -> Teacher -> Consultant -> Partner

From left to right, the doctor moves from exerting authority and “doctor power” over patients to sharing power with patients.

Where are you on this continuum most of the time? Can you move back and forth along the continuum as the need arises?

Wherever you are on the continuum, you should be aware that patients also function on a continuum.

PATIENT STYLEs

Child -> Young -> Student -> Client -> Partner

From left to right on this continuum, patients go from having less power in their relationship with the doctor to assuming more of a shared power role.

Which kinds of patients are you most comfortable with? Do you find yourself urging patients to move along the continuum to a place of a little more patient power? Or do you find yourself coaxing them toward the child place?

An interesting book, The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power, written by Joel Kramer and Diana Alstad explores how our society is going through change. The authors say we are moving away from authoritarian power toward empowerment of all. In changing times, according to the authors, people look for someone to look up to who has answers. But when the answers do not satisfy them or the people they have revered hurt them, they can become vengeful.

Our patients are among those people who are becoming empowered. Some patients (who originally entered the doctor-patient relationship in the

disciple role) become so upset if they believe they have been manipulated that they take out their revenge by filing complaints for what would seem like trivial incidents.

And the guru-doctor is left wondering, “What happened?”

How to avoid this?

• Know where you are. Become aware of the kinds of relationship you have created with your patients.
• Share the power. Don’t keep it all to yourself.
• Put your ego in check. This is perhaps most important.

With all of this in mind, you will not find yourself in an ethical dilemma.