BE OUR GUEST: CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN DEFENDS PROFESSION, URGES COOPERATION IN HEALTH CARE

Dr. Kathy A. McCuan is a chiropractic physician in Cape Girardeau.

I am a chiropractic physician in practice at 115 South Broadview here in Cape Girardeau. I use important scientifically supported health care methods as treatment for ailments such as backaches, muscle pains, headaches and stress. The article about alternative health care methods in the Southeast Missourian (from the Associated Press, Jan. 28, 1993) has created some confusion. I would like to bring to the attention of your readers the following statement by the American Chiropractic Association issued in response to the original Associated Press article.

The results of a survey conducted by Dr. David M. Eisenberg of Boston's Beth Israel Hospital, and published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (Jan. 28, 1993) do not merely suggest that many people seek alternative care over medical care, but rather they are not getting the desired results from medical doctors for certain conditions, Dr. John C. Pammer, president of the American Chiropractic Association, charged today. The survey showed that one-third of all Americans seek relief from their health problems by going outside mainstream medicine, especially when they need treatment for backaches, headaches and stress, for which medical doctors lack the skills to cure. High among the health practitioners chosen to treat their ills are doctors of chiropractic.

According to the survey, while the money spent with alternative practitioners is only 2 percent of the total amount spent, researchers estimate that the $14 billion per year represents more visits to alternative providers. This would imply that medical costs are running extremely high on a per-visit basis compared with alternative methods of care.

"I am elated with the results of that survey, which further support chiropractic's research that neuro-musculoskeletal problems respond better to chiropractic procedure than to medical procedure," said Pammer. "But what is appalling to me is how devious organized medicine can be in its interpretation of the survey's results being that America's patients are doing something undesirable rather than admitting that patients are seeking out so-called alternative methods because medicine has not proven itself successful with certain types of cases."

To further support his statement, Pammer pointed out that patients who use chiropractic and other alternative methods in 75 percent of the cases are paying for the service out of their own pockets, since many insurance policies do not cover anything other than medical care. Pammer said, "What better proof is there of dissatisfaction with medical results and satisfaction with chiropractic benefits than a patient who is willing to bypass reimbursement to use the procedure of his or her choice? Obviously, chiropractic works, or people wouldn't be willing to forego reimbursement. While chiropractic is a low-cost procedure, it has been proven to be highly effective."

A number of scientific studies done by medical sources comparing chiropractic care against medical and physical therapy non-surgical care of the back and neck show that chiropractic procedure relieves chronic and severe pain, both immediate and long-term, in half the time it takes medical physicians. The results of a major study by the British Research Council supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic were reported in the British Medical Journal (June 1990). A Gallup Poll survey conducted in 1991 indicates a high level of patient satisfaction with chiropractic procedure.

"Please don't misinterpret my remarks," Pammer continued, "Chiropractic fully respects the skills of medical physicians and the benefits of medical technology. In fact, many chiropractors have a wonderful two-way referral relationship with the more progressive MDs. However, political medicine must get off its pedestal of arrogance and admit that maintaining the health of the patient is complex and requires a team effort." Pammer pointed out that the relationship between the chiropractic profession and the medical profession has improved greatly in the past several years. On Feb. 7, 1990, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the American Medical Association's guilt in conducting a "lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott" of the nation's doctors of chiropractic in its effort to destroy the profession. This released medical physicians and medical facilities to work more closely with doctors of chiropractic.

"I hope America is past the monopolistic tactics and power influence of yesteryear, and health reform will reflect a new spirit of cooperation," Pammer concluded. "Everybody benefits when the patient has the right of freedom of choice. This is brought out very clearly if one makes a fair and rational interpretation of the survey."