Don't let medical bias distort benefits of chiropractic care
Letters to the Editor
Published January 15, 2005
Re: Chiropractic has backers, but is it just voodoo? Jan. 9.
ST. PETE TIMES HAS BACKERS, BUT IS IT JUST AN UNPRINCIPLED RAG?
If the above headline offends you, then you are experiencing a small fraction of the fury I suppressed when reading last Sunday's biased portrayal of the chiropractic profession.
I'm fairly certain that the Agency for Health Care Administration did not consider chiropractic to be voodoo when it stated that chiropractic is "the most efficacious treatment for most forms of back pain." I'm equally certain that the U.S. Department of Education did not agree with you when it recognized the Council on Chiropractic Education as the sole accrediting body for chiropractic institutions, thereby making all member schools eligible for inclusion in the federal Health Education Assistance Loan program.
What never ceases to amaze me is that when you go "fact finding" on chiropractic health care or anything else outside allopathic medicine, you always extensively quote the very group who knows the least about our educational standards - you guessed it, the allopaths! You can take comfort in the knowledge that our scientifically based institutions no longer cling to the dogma of subluxation theory as you described it, just as the medical profession gave up leeches some time ago.
As for Dr. Bill Kinsinger's assertion of neck mobilization causing 2,800 strokes a year, our liability carrier NCMIC did a detailed review on some 400 papers in the medical literature describing stroke caused by "chiropractic manipulation." It turns out that in 90 percent of those cases the "manipulation" was performed by someone other than a licensed D.C., ranging from bouncers to kung fu practitioners. Again the medical bias against our profession just happened to omit that fact, tantamount to describing a punch in the mouth as a "dental procedure."
I would venture to say that Dr. Kinsinger and his colleagues are responsible for more iatrogenic (physician-caused) illnesses in the past month than my profession has caused in the past two decades.
-- Raymond G. Nietzold, D.C., Clearwater
Thinking outside the pill
The recent controversy over the prejudices toward chiropractic care has come to my attention.
I have seen chiropractors for the last 25 years. They have been able to relieve pain in my back and stop muscle spasms without the aid of prescriptions for medications that would be harmful to me - or get me addicted to those drugs.
If those who are so against this type of medicine would concentrate more on preventive care and less on being a society hooked on thinking a pill will cure it all, we as a society would be much healthier.
-- Lucretia Stolzman, Largo
M.D.s and chiropractors work together
Why can't your reporters get a sense of reality? Over the 15 years that I've been in practice, the relationship between medical doctors and chiropractors has done nothing but improve. A large percentage of my patients come from M.D. referrals. Why? Because a 1994 study funded by the U.S. government showed chiropractic to be more effective in the treatment of low back pain than anything a medical doctor could offer. And because patients are tired of taking ineffective and sometime dangerous medications (i.e., Vioxx). Every year more and more people seek chiropractic care - because it works. If my patients were not benefiting from my care, don't you think they'd be able to figure that out?
When a patient requires a medical or orthopedic or neurosurgical consultation or an MRI, I refer them to the proper specialist. This is a big part of the everyday relationship between M.D.s and chiropractors. Most chiropractors stick to treating only what we are best equipped to treat.
Dr. Ray Bellamy, quoted in your Jan. 9 article, should open his eyes and he will find that chiropractic physicians are trained in anatomy, physiology, radiology, orthopedics, neurology, physical diagnosis and physical therapy. As in every profession, there are fringe practitioners who make outlandish claims about curing every disease known to man. But today's mainstream chiropractor is an effective part of the health care system.
Finally, the sensationalism over the risk of stroke is old and tired. If the risk was even 1/100th that of the risk of death due to adverse reactions to properly prescribed, FDA-approved medications, then the esteemed professors at FSU would not need to worry about chiropractors - they would be outlawed. Your reporters should research the relatively minute cost of malpractice insurance of chiropractors vs. that of M.D.s.
-- William Lichter, Tampa
Medical minds ought to be open
Re: Chiropractic school angers FSU professors, Dec. 29.
In my opinion, Florida State University will be better off without those "take my paper dolls and go home" doctors who threaten to resign from the faculty if a chiropractic school is added. We do not need our medical students tainted with a prejudiced attitude that refuses to keep an open mind on other ways to bring the human body back to health.
Chiropractic treatment finally relieved my chronic asthmatic bronchitis after 25 years of going to medical doctors whose antibiotic pills only made my stomach hurt and did nothing to get at the cause of my problem. Anyone who cares to investigate the matter knows that today's chiropractors have a more gentle method of treatment than before. Chiropractors are also quick to refer a patient to a medical doctor if there is a condition that needs medication or other treatments. In fact, most of them work in conjunction with a medical doctor so that the whole patient can be treated.
The dissenting doctors, in addition to being closed-minded, obviously are more concerned with defending their position than with the well-being of the patient as it is well-known that there are things that medicine cannot cure.
I don't know how chiropractic works. But after more than 50 years of trying it, I know that it does, and I thank God for both disciplines. We need them both.
-- Anne M. Garris, Clearwater
Physicians feeling threatened?
I just read the article that FSU doesn't want a chiropractic curriculum to start. I think that is so lame.
Are the doctors threatened or what? I know that if you mention going to a chiropractor to your primary care physician he almost has a heart attack. It's happened to me.
I had a muscle spasm in my back and my primary care physician just wanted to give me pills and more pills to get rid of the pain. I am not one to continually take pills, so I went to a chiropractor and after six months of treatment I never felt better.
This happened a few years ago, but I would go again if I felt it would be the better alternative. Come on, doctors, having your patients go to a chiropractor isn't going to cut into your pay - you get too much as it is. Kudos to chiropractors.
-- S. Jenkins, Dunedin
The body must play a part in healing
Re: Chiropractic care.
On Sunday, I overheard my husband say to a friend, "Hide the newspaper. Sara will be furious." Sure enough, when I began to read the article with the headline linking chiropractic care to voodoo, I became unglued.
I have had two spinal injuries that resulted in surgery. I had an excellent surgeon, but operations can only do so much. The body must play a part in the healing process. Like so many others, I was told that I would need painkilling drugs for the rest of my life. Oh, yeah, the pharmaceutical companies would love to convince us of that! They do not want you to think for one moment that there could possibly be a natural, healthy alternative. Think of the billions of dollars they would lose!
What a pity! Methods like chiropractic and acupuncture treatments are a godsend for those of us who live with pain. These doctors are not "bought" by the drug companies, and are not pushing the "drug of the week" when I walk in the door. They spend more time looking at me, instead of their watches. They have my utmost respect for their knowledge of the human body. I have personally experienced wonderful results.
-- Sara Pleso, Largo
The harm not done
In defense of chiropractors:
No chiropractor ever amputated the wrong leg!
No chiropractor ever left surgical instruments in a patient!
No chiropractor ever got a patient hooked on tranquilizers or pain killers!
Chiropractors do it by laying on the hand.
-- Vernon E. Krieber, St. Petersburg
Marketplace will make adjustments
Re: Chiropractic has backers, but is it just voodoo?
Unfettered, the "invisible hands" of the marketplace enjoy a high rate of success in (working out the kinks) of any enterprise that offers the public a better remedy.
Based upon the numbers, the "Great Chiropractor" of the marketplace has (smiled favorably), upon the fruits of chiropractic.
-- Daniel P. Quinn, St. Petersburg
An insensitive remark
Re: Her lone and potent voice, Jan. 10.
I would like to thank the Times for providing a glimpse into the life of Nancy Bostock, the new chairman of the Pinellas County School Board, and to her for allowing the public to learn more about her and her family. It is easy to see that she enjoys a wonderful home and family. I also applaud her and her husband for making the conscious choice to adopt two special-needs children. It is good to see compassionate, conservative Republicans put their values to work.
However, Mrs. Bostock is quoted in the article as saying that ". . . adopting that white, healthy infant doesn't really help anybody." Really? When a couple or family makes a choice to bring a child, any child, into their lives is that not helping someone - in particular, that child?
The adoption process requires prospective adoptive parents to go through extensive background checks and home visits to provide evidence that the child will be placed in a good, decent home with a stable family, and a chance for a future that he may not have had otherwise. Gosh, those are probably the same reasons the Bostocks chose to adopt their children. But it would appear that the philosophy of compassionate conservatives, in this case, is that children with special needs are more worthy of adoption than the children without special needs. How insensitive. This ranks right down there with Mrs. Bostock's assertion that the Confederate flag is merely a symbol of Southern heritage.
I am a veteran educator here in the Pinellas County school system, and I am glad that Mrs. Bostock has only one vote on the School Board.
-- Marshall Koppel, Clearwater
More Nancy Bostocks needed
Re: Her lone and potent voice.
What an interesting, informative and delightful article on a dedicated public servant!
Pinellas County, the state, indeed the nation, need more Nancy Bostocks!
-- John Hungerford, Palm Harbor
Attorney's loss will be widely felt
Re: Attorney commanded courtroom, stage, Jan. 7.
While Michael Schwartzberg's theater characters almost always received rave reviews, the acclaim for his real-life role was much quieter. His critical part in the criminal justice system should never be forgotten. Other attorneys will take over that role, but there will never be another like him.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees everyone accused of a serious crime the right to an effective attorney, even if they cannot afford one. While the public defender generally provides such representation, sometimes the public defender is unable to take these cases. Fortunately, there are private attorneys like Michael who accept these cases for far less compensation than they would normally receive.
These are capital cases, and they involve the most difficult, emotionally wrenching responsibility that a person can have. They involve life and death. Michael accepted this responsibility time and time again. By carrying out this constitutional guarantee so often and so well, Michael served us all.
On a personal level, Michael was a friend to me and my family, and we will miss him. Indeed, he was a friend to a huge number of people, and his loss will be felt in many different places. The criminal justice system and the people of 6th Judicial Circuit will feel his loss for a long time to come.
-- David A. Demers, chief judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit, St. Petersburg
Photo invited thieves
Due to the strong storm we had at Christmas my boat, after losing an engine, ran aground near the Snell Isle/Brightwaters area in St. Petersburg. The photograph you put in the paper showing the boat aground (High and dry, Dec. 28.) was an advertisement for anybody to make him or herself at home, and steal $5,000 worth of electronics in the catamaran - which, of course, is what happened.
You should make it a policy that you cannot show someone's property without the owner's consent, especially in this type of situation. I am sorry to say but I am extremely disappointed with the St. Petersburg Times.
-- Patrick Hirt, St. Petersburg
A restaurant owner's right
Re: Jan 8. letters in response to My restaurant, love it or leave it.
I think the letter writers from Sun City Center and Clearwater have forgotten one basic rule of freedom that I know they were raised with. For as long as I can remember, there has been a sign at the entrance of every restaurant that said, "This establishment reserves the right to refuse service to anyone."
Tommy Piliouras, as a citizen and business owner, has that option, and has chosen to enforce it in his establishment. To those who want to deny a business owner his rights, I say, don't patronize that establishment. But don't sit there in all your righteousness and tell him how to run his business. I for one, applaud him and his way of doing business, and will continue to patronize his establishment. Way to go, Tommy.
-- Robert Lindsey, Hernando
Don't dismiss God's wrath
Re: Letters in response to The hand Of God?, Jan. 7.
I wouldn't be too quick to judge the Rev. Bernard Smith. They laughed at Noah right up until the moment he closed the hatch on the Ark, and they laughed at Lot right up until the time he and his family fled Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible is full of accounts where God poured out his wrath upon the world for its wickedness and indifference toward him.
The problem today is that we have created a society of convenience and have become so educated and sophisticated that we consider our own wisdom to be above that of God's and have re-written the Bible to read as we want it to read, if we read it at all.
We refuse to believe that any God would do such things because to believe it would mean that we would have to apply some degree of effort to repent and make the changes in our lives that are necessary in order to live in a manner pleasing in the sight of God. And that is inconvenient by society's standards today.
-- Len Vivolo, Clearwater
Reflections after the flooding
One has to be neither deeply religious nor moderately agnostic to be fascinated by the biblical accounts of the antediluvian era, with its self-indulgence, avarice, selfishness, carnal desires and self-importance. That era was finally washed away with the biblical flood; we all know about Noah's ark, etc.
In another ancient era, in a land nestled between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers - a land which was also fraught with iniquities (to put it mildly) - lived this Babylonian guy Gilgamesh. Just like Noah before him, he was similarly put to sea and survived the ordeal for the sake of the ancient people of Mesopotamia.
Nothing in this piece is to even remotely suggest any religious connotation. Simply put, in the wake of the tsunami tragedy, shouldn't we reflect on the awesome power of nature and on our own mortality, and see if we can find room on this tortured planet to live with each other in peace?
-- Jerry Rawicki, Seminole
Keep us informed
Re: The hand of God? Jan. 4, and Why publish offensive views? letter, Jan. 7.
I think it is important to publish all views whether some people perceive the views as good or bad. Now, everyone knows the thinking of the Rev. Bernard Smith.
-- Joseph E. Marion, Brooksville
[Last modified January 15, 2005, 01:12:05]
