Since this website came online I’ve been trying to get an interview with a Chiropractor, or with the Chiropractors Association of Australia, and have failed so far. My first interview with a local chiropractor was cancelled, by them, at the 11^th hour yesterday. I’ve got some irons in the fire to get a possible interview, even if by email, and will post about that soon.

In the mean time the ABC Show, Lateline, did a couple of segments on Chiropractors and the BCA vs Simon Singh case that is ongoing now. For anyone who hasn’t been across this, here is a quick run down of the case taken from Science Based Medicine:

Simon Singh is a science journalist who last year wrote an article in the Guardian critical of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for promoting chiropractic treatment for certain childhood ailments. Singh characterized these treatments as “bogus” because they lack evidence to back up claims for clinical efficacy. The BCA responded by suing Singh for libel. In the English court system the person being sued for libel is essentially guilty until proven innocent, and even successfully defending oneself can be ruinously expensive. Therefore suing for libel in English court is a very successful strategy for silencing critics.

If you want to watch the Lateline interview with Simon Singh, click here (transcript here). They also have an article, called Chiropractors Defend Practices, which has an interview done by Steve Cannane, who really takes them to task on the matter.

The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia’s released a response to the Lateline segment which you can read here.

Regardless of the outcome of this trial, and the backlash towards keeping libel laws out of science, it’s good that an open discussion is occurring.

Should the BCA and CAA be able to make statements saying they can cure, or help, ADHD, Bed Wetting, Colic, diabete and “birth trauma” when they admit the evidence isn’t really there?  Also of interest is this article, Over Half of Chiropractic Colic Pages Slashed and Burned.  Running scared?

One last quote to finish off, by Australia neurologist Roy Beran; “I think everybody should keep their hands off the neck, personally.”

I want to start this post off by admitting two things:  Firstly I have ZERO expertise in this area, and can only go by what I've been told, and what I've read.  Also in no way have I made a decision on this topic, due to my lack of knowledge that would be a stupid thing to do.  So instead I'll post some links that I've found interesting, and maybe promote a discussion?

Chiropractic Manipulation.

First up is Dr Steven Novella's posts from the Science Based Evidence website.

Chiropractic - A Brief Overview.  Part 1 and Part 2

Next up is the section on this subject on the What's The Harm? website, which is very good, but obviously highly anecdotal by design (and a little dated).

Finally let's see what the Chiropractors' Association of Australia have to say about it all, in particular their section on Scope of Care which threw up a lot of red flags to me.  Check it out, make your own mind up.