Letter to the editor written by Larry Wyatt, D.C., DACBR 
Professor of Chiropractic, Division of Clinical Sciences, Texas 
Chiropractic College this afternoon to the
Tallahassee Democrat newspaper regarding an editorial on March 9, 
2004
 
To the editor:
 
I read, with much bewilderment, the editorial written by Attorney 
Jann
Bellamy in the March 9, 2004 issue of your newspaper.  My 
amazement was
predicated on some blatant misinformation promulgated by Ms. 
Bellamy
regarding the chiropractic profession.  Please allow me to correct 
some
of the misstatements made by the esteemed jurist.
 
She suggests that only two-years of collegiate education is required 
for
matriculation into a chiropractic school and that only two years in a
chiropractic school are required for graduation.  The Council on
Chiropractic Education requires that applicants to chiropractic 
schools
in the United States must have a minimum of 90 semester hour 
credits, 3
years, of appropriate pre-professional education courses at an
institution or institutions accredited by a nationally recognized
agency. The CCE also requires that chiropractic students have a 
minimum
of 4,200 hours of instruction.  Some schools are on semester 
systems(4
years with summers off), some on trimester systems(3 1/3 years 
attending
classes year-round) and some on a "quarters" system(3 1/2 years
attending classes year-round) before graduating.  The CCE is 
recognized
by the United States Department of Education and also by the 
Commission
on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA), for 
programs
leading to the doctor of chiropractic degree. CORPA is a non-profit
educational association that evaluates and recognizes responsible
accrediting agencies in the United States. A number of chiropractic
schools in the United States and Canada are trying to secure 
university
affiliation.
 
Regarding the research agenda of the chiropractic profession, Ms.
Bellamy, once again, forwards untrue and misleading information.  
For
many years, chiropractors were considered quacks by the medical
profession.  The American Medical Association created a Committee 
on
Quackery in the twentieth century, whose responsibility was to 
contain
and eliminate the chiropractic profession.  In 1987, Judge Susan
Getzendanner permanently enjoined the AMA from conspiring against 
the
chiropractic profession.  During the course of this trial(Wilkes, et.al.
vs. AMA), it was determined that the chiropractic profession was
interested in performing research, but traditional medicine blocked
chiropractors from accessing university affiliation and hospital 
access
so that such research could be performed and published.  The amount 
of
research done regarding spinal manipulation has blossomed in the 
last 20
years to the point that, to date, there are over 40 randomized
controlled clinical trials investigating the use of manipulation for 
low
back pain and more trials are underway.  There is also some 
interesting
basic science research underway which is investigating the reasons 
for
back pain.  Manipulation is, in fact, one of the most widely studied
interventions for spinal complaints and it has yet to be judged 
inferior
to other forms of therapy(medications, surgery) which carry 
obviously
higher clinical risks.  Chiropractors are now on hospital staffs, work
in multi-disciplinary clinics with MDs and other providers and are an
integral part of the health care system in this country.
 
In conclusion, the chiropractic profession is hungry to perform 
quality
research regarding our diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.  We 
now
ask for the chance to do that at well-respected American 
universities
where incredible resources  for research and training are available.
Would Ms. Bellamy deny us, as has happened in the past, the 
opportunity
to produce high quality, ethical, conscientious, science-based and
research-oriented chiropractors?  I certainly hope not.
 
As an aside regarding the yellow pages, has Ms. Bellamy checked the
attorney section of the yellow pages lately or watched daytime
television for attorney advertisements?
 
While I always welcome a good academic and scientific discussion 
about
the chiropractic profession, I would hope in the future, that anyone 
who
makes statements about our profession, do it with facts and not 
innuendo
and vitriol.
 
Respectfully,"
 
Regards,
 
Larry
 

Larry Wyatt, D.C., DACBR 
Professor of Chiropractic
Division of Clinical Sciences
Texas Chiropractic College