Q: Dr. M First let me say it has been great getting your weekly e-mails. You've presented great info and provided a forum for the profession to communicate via "classifides". I have been out of practice for a short period of time. I am taking Part 4 boards soon and hope to be licensed shortly thereafter. However, I have been questioning many things since I graduated. I have found out that some of the info we learned was not entirely accurate and that bothers me. For instance, we learned that the birthing process is a terrible thing in hospitals and we should think twice about having a child in a hospital. Why? Because "the doctors pull the baby's head with about 90 lbs of pressure", because "it is a cold environment", because "the baby is pulled out upside down from the mother and it is very traumatic on the nervous system". These were just a few reasons given to me, and I accepted them to be truthful. After all, why would a chiropractic school give false information to me? Well, recently, my fiancee's cousin gave birth at a local hospital and I had a discussion with a friend of mine who is an emergency room pediatrician. When I discussed this rational with him, he said that it might have been done this way back in the 60's, but things change and most metro hospitals are with the times now, using birthing chairs or having the bed totally upright for the mother to sit. So who should I believe? I tend to believe my friend. Now I am thinking that if this info was potentially false, then what else is false? The vaccination controversy? We have been told of the horrors of vaccinations and that many have had serious problems due to vaccination, however I don't recall discussing out of how many people got vaccines vs how many had problems. We only discussed the horror storys. Also, there is evidence on both sides of the spectrum to show how certain vaccines are ineffective vs effective. How does one determine what is propoganda and statistical nonsense vs true scientific research. I don't care to be "brainwashed" by the media or the AMA anymore than I care to get it from my own profession. The last and biggest problems I have been having is with the concept of chiropractic where it seems he thinks and promotes that an adjustment can grow back a limb that has been severed from the body. This, of course, is just an example. I've always tooted my horn that chiropractic is not about getting sick people well, because I couldn't validate this theory. I have always said that you are better off with a nervous system working at 100% so you have the ability to live to the fullest. I wonder if this rational really can be promoted to the public? I know I have lots of loans to pay back, and yes, I am questioning my methods of getting people into my practice. People tend to respond to either pain or pleasure. Most respond to pain and fear, not pleasure. Though I would rather promote chiropractic in the light of "reaching your fullest potential", I wonder if this is the best way to bring people in. I'm not the first person to say that I really want to help people, and I really want to make a good, no... a great living. I used to say I would never do insurance because it was buying into the system. Now I am thinking about accepting assignment with certain compaines. I guess being out of the school "bubble" makes a person start questioning things all over again, especially since I was brought up in a"medicine chest" house. Any suggestions, reassurance, information, to help me come to grips with these issues of vaccination, medicine, and practice philosophy would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this and for your response. A: Thanks for your e-mail. You have no dilemma .. instead you have questions that need some answers. Remember that a person that stops questioning is a person that stops growing. Also .. chiropractic is bigger than one man and one school .. whether MIT .. Harvard .. Life or wherever. These are just vehicles .. places to fill your mind with thought and begin the process of thinking and learning for real. This is what you are doing and hopefully continue to do. This is patent BS talk .. this is what it¼s like in the real world .. in the trenches .. in active practice. As you create a practice .. you do so with a thought .. this thought being Chiropractic. Unfortunately .. so many schools of thought it is .. too many adds to confusion .. but like an onion .. after you take away the early layers producing frustration and tears there is a common denominator .. the core .. I believe it is the Subluxation .. and it transcends all. Chiropractic has nothing to do with birthing at home or hospital or vaccinations. It has nothing to do with straight or mixer concepts or insurance assignment or not. Chiropractic doesn't begin or end school lectures and seminar team speakers. It is a stand alone physical method of health care to eliminate or manage the subluxation complex and all that it entails. Not to mend broken limbs and or discuss the germ theory. We have meager means of research in our profession. Because of this void of knowledge we must connect the dots based on clinical experience office by office. Be assured .. after 21 years of active practice .. I don't need any team speaker or special assembly to tell me that chiropractic works .. I need go no further than my family. After 21 years of active practice I've encountered plenty of patients that needed medical care with and without chiropractic and had no problem making the referral. More importantly .. I have been offended too many times with the variance and troubles presented by „scientific medicine.¾ It won¼t be long before you too won¼t look towards your friend for answers .. instead you too will pose questions .. of like myself and other veterans .. tire of it and just accept our role to offer an alternative and be prepared for the ethical referrals to the most conservative allopathic physicians out there when necessary and in the meantime shake your head that they for sure haven¼t the answers .. again no need for assembly or „Amway¾ rah rah meetings to make you aware of this .. just by observation and history taking will clue you to my being right. The dilemma you will face is in your Purpose with Chiropractic. We have a mission as few people understand what we do. We have a purpose to present in an ethical and responsible way our chiropractic story .. each story teller has a different slant but the core story should remain the same. "Brainwashing" doesn¼t cut it .. telling the truth .. as you conceive it to be is. I don¼t have to go beyond my three children (each born at home .. each not immunized .. 22 .. 19 .. 15) never been to the MD and never had need for medication and ties that by the loads of DC friends that I have with similar stories. If you need data .. there are places to visit. First my webpage: http:://www.mindspring.com/~chirosmart and look under Disease and Sickness .. there are loads of data on immunizations from research folks .. not DC¼s. Go the Chiroweb: http://www.chiroweb.com and search their data banks for information. I applaud your question and hope I gave a decent shot for an answer .. I also recommend you attend my class .. just sit in 8-10 Tuesdays in room 127 annex C .. many graduates do and/or see me during my office hours in the annex B chiro sciences Tuesdays from 10-11 .. we can talk then. In the meantime .. hang in there .. concentrate on Part Four and let the reason you became a chiropractor guide you towards a successful future Have a Great Day Dr. M .. I will post your request this week. You may wish to check the previous Postings .. e- mails .. Pratice Tips and Cyberconsulting answers and found on my webpage: http://www.mindspring.com/~chirosmart By the way .. if you find value to my weekly e-mails and you know of other DC's with an e-mail address .. please have them contact me about my weekly e-mails or send me your chiropractic e-mail address list and I'll get these folks on board. This is how my list grows Also .. a mild commercial for my stuff: If you wish to purchase my Smart Start Book ($59.95) or my PI Workbook ($20) or Workshop Workbook ($20) or the PR and Marketing Book ($20) or a document disk for the Smart Start Book with the forms and letters and a complete narrative with ratings for Windows and Mac (please request which) ($15) .. you can do it on-line at http://www.chirostore.com/cgi-bin/netcat.pl?page=cat8.htm .. or call my office at 770-491- 3639 and order it directly. Have a Great Day Dr. M