10 September 2020 (Falls Church, VA): This week, at the request of our members in the Canadian Province of British Columbia, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) submitted an evidence-based response to the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia (CCBC) request for public input on analyzing the use of routine and repeat spinal radiography, such as x-rays with an intent to amend the Professional Conduct Handbook (PCH) as a result. These draft amendments are now posted for public consultation. The CCBC provided a single paper as the research to support this action, a rapid review of the literature titled, “The clinical utility of routine spinal radiographs by chiropractors: a rapid review of the literature.”¹ Our response was submitted through our Canadian Director, Dr. Bradly Lohrenz. Having assessed the rapid review, the ICA noted in our response methodological flaws, a failure to comply with the framework established to conduct the literature review, and inherent bias. Dr. Stephen Welsh, ICA President stated, “We have asked the CCBC to reject the changes as we find no positive outcome for the public or the profession by injecting onerous regulatory limits to a safe, well-established practice. Furthermore, we can predict negative implications to patient outcomes.”  The ICA response also noted that among the researchers involved was Dr. Pierre Côté, who last year published an editorial in a Canadian news outlet which included a particularly prejudicial opinion, “Chiropractors who adhere to vitalism and chiropractic subluxation theories are a danger to patients’ health and a threat to public health.”² Dr. Welsh went on to state, “The prejudice Dr. Côté brings to the any study invalidates the soundness of its outcomes. Given this prejudice against a majority of chiropractors, his continued position of authority in academia is troubling. Every day, the ICA is focused on its mission to protect and promote chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science, and art of subluxation detection and correction. Our comments can be read here. 

1.    Corso, M., et al., The clinical utility of routine spinal radiographs by chiropractors: a rapidreview of the literature. Chiropr Man Therap, 2020. 28(1): p. 33.2.    Cote, P., Re Critics Call For Outside Regulation Of Chiropractors (Jan. 2), in Globe and Mail2019: Globe and Mail.