Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners wins court fight on nerve testing and treatments

Ending a 10-year court battle, started when the Texas Medical Association sued the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners in 2011, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that nerve and related testing as it pertains to the musculoskeletal system is within the lawful scope of practice for Texas chiropractors.

The Texas Medical Association’s original suit argued that nerve and related testing diagnoses exceeded a chiropractor’s licensed scope of practice.

“On behalf of the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, I extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone whose efforts resulted in the Texas Supreme Court’s decision,” wrote Mark R. Bronson, DC, FIANM, and board president for the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners. “The decision properly affirmed the validity of the board’s scope of practice rule, which the court clearly said does not exceed our statutory scope of chiropractic practice … This decision, which recognizes the common sense and long-standing inclusion of associated nerves in chiropractic diagnosis and treatment, preserves and strengthens the essence of chiropractic. Thanks to the court’s decision, our licensees can now fulfill their duties as vital portal-of-entry health care providers in Texas without fear.”

The split decision overturned a ruling from the Austin Court of Appeals that had sided with Texas Medical Association.

“Today’s decision was not only legally sound but a victory for common sense and patient care,” wrote Matt Webb, attorney for the chiropractic board, in an email to the Hays Free Press. “A different outcome could have drastically curtailed access to critical chiropractic care for patients across the State of Texas.”

To view the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners statement go to tbce.state.tx.us/Documents/Supreme-Court-Decision.pdf.