From Dr. Margolies:


Negative Press-- Here We Go Again

In the back of chapter seven in the Smart Start Book, I give examples of letters in response to 
negative press, first from „20/20¾ concerning children, and the other in Newsprint media from a 
front page story that chiropractic causes strokes. We must always be on the defensive when our 
principles are at risk .. but there is the proper way and even a better way to do it. The most recent 
January 1997 issue of Smart Money Magazine has the „Ten Things Your Chiropractor Won¼t 
Tell You.¾ Now, before you blow up in rage .. as it is negative overall .. this is from an on going 
column called „Ten Things.¾ The advantage we have in this case, is their limited level of exposure 
.. I don¼t imagine Smart Money has the exposure of a „20/20¾ or the Wall Street Journal. In fact, 
those individuals who subscribe to this magazine are probably not interested in a column like this .. 
as their opinion concerning healthcare is no doubt set and this will not sway them one way or the 
other. Therefore, getting back to the proper and the better way to respond. 

If this was on national or local television or written within my local newspaper, I would respond 
immediately with a letter to the editor .. not inflaming the issue more by damning them .. but gently 
informing them. I would have my response written on paper and have it ready to give to my patient 
... but, only if they brought it up. In this way, they can appreciate my concern and my quick 
response .. therefore their doctor has already addressed the issue of their concern. That would, in 
my opinion, be the proper way to handle this. But for the better way .. especially in this case .. I 
will not respond .. at least to my patients at all. Why ... I doubt if they even read it ... I have 
nothing to say ... as the article was ludicrous .. also, I am open with my patients .. give them a 
choice of proper care ... ask that to take an active part in their wellness .. provide regular 
workshops ... work closely with their financial concerns .. never overutilize any service ... and 
stand proud and tall with an honest approach towards my care and recommendations based on 
sound philosophical/physiological/biomechanical principles that have been founded on clinical 
results, sound scientific research, and years of appreciative patients .. do I really need 
confirmations from others outside sources .. Not!

Okay, here is their Top Ten list (these are the titles as in the article) as presented by Smart Money 
Magazine. (The underlined/capitalized introductions is their title heading per number .. if it¼s in 
quotes it¼s from their text)


1: „I¼VE GOT MORE NUTTY THEORIES THAN OLIVER STONE.¾  ..   „They¼ve 
(chiropractors) even taken to calling themselves doctors.¾ Naturally, this is the old worn out we 
think we cure everything syndrome. Now .. do we cure anything? Or .. does the body heal itself 
once we remove the interference. Never deny the miracles of modern medicine .. in a crisis best go 
to the proper mechanic .. but somewhere in the scheme of things get rid of the cause .. makes 
sense to me. By the way .. want to know how to find the proper chiropractor .. call 713-280-8262 
the National Association for Chiropractic Medicine .. talk to the groups founder .. Ron Slaughter .. 
appropriate name I¼d say.  Like asking an atheist to discuss religion. 

2: „MY BILL WILL BE THE REAL BACK-BREAKER.¾  This is another time worn effort to 
dispute that chiropractic is cheaper than medicine. After all, we determine the means to assist 
someone after a usual one day evaluation .. then multiple attempts to assist the body. The MD may 
have a large up front expense with an aspirin as the follow up. „Physicians usually take two visits 
to treat back pain .. while rural chiropractors saw patients nine times and urban chiropractors 
required 13 visits.¾ Must I comment here ... never come to any care protocol based on 
demographics .. this is not proper care .. not ethical .. and grounded on a false premise. Patients 
require care based on each individuals profile and case review. We can never place our care in a 
test tube evaluation ... it wont fit!

3: „GO ELSEWHERE TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.¾ „One of the best kept secrets about spinal 
treatments for neck and back pain is that you can get them from other doctors just as easily as from 
a chiropractor .. Osteopaths, several MD¼s such as sports medicine, orthopedics, physiatrists, as 
well as certain family practitioners.¾  The article goes over where to find competent others to 
manipulate .. (not an adjustment). With the advent of viewing operations on cable TV, CDRoms, 
Web TV, I expect ginzu knives will be the norm for home use, and you can save a bundle on your 
own operations. 

4: „I COULD MAKES THINGS WORSE.¾ Okay, here goes, one horror story after another. Sue 
your local chiropractor. „ Journal of the Australian Chiropractors Association in the late 1980¼s 
noted more than 100 reported cases of death, paralysis, coma, and other serious problems in the 
wake of spinal manipulations over the previous five decades.¾  Without the facts I can¼t comment 
.. but if there were only 100 cases in five decades .. that¼s not bad .. not good if you¼re the patient 
.. but not a bad stat. „How do you protect yourself from such mishaps? For one thing, beware of 
attempts to manipulate your neck, as opposed to the spine.¾  They go on telling you to contact the 
state board and check your DC¼s malpractice insurance .... must I go on.

5: „YOUR HEALTH INSURER THINKS I¼M A SLOUCH.¾ This is a short discussion of how 
most insurance companies do not cover chiropractic .. or very little.

6: „WE¼LL BE SEEING A LOT OF EACH OTHER.¾  „How long should a sequence of visits to 
your chiropractor last?¾ This statement, along with quotes from various chiropractic groups and 
consultants, attempt to prove that chiropractors are scam artists and we are driven by greed rather 
than by heeding the patient¼s need for care. „What¼s the easiest way to deal with these pitches? 
Simple: Just say no.¾   You know something .. we take care of less than 11% of people in our 
country. They make it sound like we¼re really doing what we should. Too many people just say no 
... 


7: „WE LIKE åEM YOUNG.¾  Here goes .. the direct hit on our helping children. „After visiting 
America Online¼s chiropractic message board, you might think that pediatricians had gone out of 
business. There are dozens of postings about chiropractors treating children.¾ It goes on to prove 
that DC¼s market for children.  „All the medical doctors we spoke with, as well as several 
chiropractors took exception¾ ..  to chiropractors working with children. „Ron Slaughter of the 
National Association for Chiropractic Medicine (I wonder if he is a chiropractor .. if he is .. they 
didn¼t even acknowledge he¼s a DC or Dr.) say no child under 12 should ever be taken to a 
chiropractor unless recommended by a pediatrician.¾ „As for the use of chiropractic manipulations 
to treat things such as chronic ear infections, bed-wetting and asthma, Slaughter dismisses them 
out of hand: It¼s bunk.¾  Wow .. so glad Slaughter didn¼t take my family and friends to the 
slaughter house .. I¼ve been adjusting my kids since they were seconds old .. the oldest is now 20 
..... 

8: „THE VITAMINS I¼M PRESCRIBING WILL REJUVENATE MY WALLET.¾  They¼ll tell 
you where to get your vitamins cheaper. 

9: „X-RAYS ARE OUR BEST FRIEND.¾  I¼m sure there is over utilization of x-rays .. pre --post 
-- son/daughter of post x-rays -- etc., but this should only be dependent on your adjustment 
protocol, and should not be based on extra services for extra fees. Of course they had to end the 
paragraph with „......They will have people go until they glow in the dark.¾

10: „YOU¼LL PROBABLY GET BETTER ON YOUR OWN.¾ To conclude they let you know 
that „time heals all wounds.¾ If you wait it out the pain will go away on it¼s own, and it¼s a whole 
lot cheaper to just take a few aspirins.

What does it mean. If you took the time to read it .. and were thinking of going to a chiropractor .. 
you may wait awhile. If you are already a patient of a chiropractor and are not educated to the 
reality of the subluxation and the biomechanical purpose of care .. this may be all you needed to 
sneak out and not return. If you are a patient of a chiropractor .. straight or mixer .. who tells the 
story .. whether philosophical or based on pure structure .. physics .. and the like .. they won¼t 
question you and you¼ll never know they read it. BUT, for the vast majority of people walking this 
earth .. they¼ll never read this .. wouldn¼t even take the time to read it .. if they have ... wouldn¼t 
care a bit about it .. and therefore it is no immediate threat. This war torn profession called 
chiropractic has come of age ... and we¼re going to have to take the hits .. this wasn¼t too bad. 
These idiots .. the Salughters, et.al., chiropractors in medical clothing .. attempting to protect the 
consumer, think with a clear conscience and open heart that they are right and are doing a noble 
thing. Let them and those that wrote this piece influence the 7-10% of those that go to chiropractors 
already .. you keep telling the story to the other 93-90% that don¼t .. and never let anyone 
shut you up!

Dr. M