April 2007

ACA warns members about SELF article

The American Chiropractic Association is warning chiropractors about an article scheduled to appear in the May issue of SELF Magazine that examines the alleged link between vertebral artery dissection and chiropractic cervical manipulation.

The article, which is posted online at www.self.com, claims “chiropractors are causing strokes in young, healthy women.” Although it includes quotes from ACA spokesperson William Lauretti, DC, an expert on the topic of vertebral artery dissection, the piece is, overall, negative and details the stories of several patients, particularly a 43-year-old mother of four who believes her stroke was caused by a chiropractic adjustment. 

ACA has issued a news alert to state associations, chiropractic media, chiropractic colleges, ACA leadership, and other chiropractic organizations to prepare them for negative media coverage that could result from the article. ACA members are also urged to be prepared to respond to questions from concerned patients who might read or hear about the story, as well as direct any media inquiries to ACA’s Communication’s Department.

ACA is also asking DCs to monitor SELF’s blog where readers can discuss the story. 

In ACA’s official response to the editors of SELF, Richard G. Brassard, DC, president of ACA, said, “The American Chiropractic Association believes that patients have the right to know about the health risks associated with any type of treatment, including chiropractic; however, health care consumers should be aware that the risks associated with chiropractic treatment are infinitesimally small. In fact, research has shown negligible evidence to support a causal relationship between cervical spinal manipulation and vertebral artery dissection…

“… For any healthcare intervention, the issue should be appropriateness, which involves balancing effectiveness and safety. Focusing only on risk and not potential benefit demonstrates an editorial bias, a lack of understanding of the issue, or a complete disregard for the available research. Several extensive reviews of the scientific literature from leading authorities have agreed that neck manipulation is safe, effective, and appropriate for patients with a number of very common complaints like neck pain and headache.”

To view ACA’s full response, visit www.acatoday.org 

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org

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