British Chiropractic Association v Simon Singh

[Blue Wode]

A couple of relevant updates.

It appears that GCC Council member and practising chiropractor, Stephen Williams (http://www.gcc-uk.org/page.cfm?page_id=8 ) has written a book on the chiropractic approach to pregnancy and paediatrics. It covers the “treatment” of colic, enuresis, otitis media and asthma:
http://chiropracticlive.com/spinal-care/can-chiropractors-help-children-and-infants/

Conflict of interest, anyone?

Also, just out is the new GCC Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency which will be effective from 30 June 2010 (chiropractors have a year to familiarise themselves with it):
http://www.gcc-uk.org/files/link_file/COPSOP_2010.pdf

The wording on p.44 is particularly interesting:

You might need to explain to patients that their ideas about risk are not necessarily borne out by research evidence. You might find it useful to explain the evidence there is about different forms of assessment and care, and the risks attached to these − although you will need to recognise that some of this information is rather complicated.

It seems to leave some scope to mislead.

 

[Asolepius]

Also, just out is the new GCC Code of Practice and Standard of Proficiency which will be effective from 30 June 2010 (chiropractors have a year to familiarise themselves with it):
http://www.gcc-uk.org/files/link_file/COPSOP_2010.pdf

The wording on p.44 is particularly interesting:


It seems to leave some scope to mislead.

Are they joking? If this is a coded of conduct, what standard of practice are they expecting? If the chiropractor doesn't do something that the code says "they might like to" do, are they in breach? This should be reported to the Privy Council as I'm sure the legislation expects clearer regulation.

 

[Worm]

Article in the UK Daily Mail - basically a summary of the story so far. But it will bring it to a wider audience.

 

[Mojo]

Article in the UK Daily Mail - basically a summary of the story so far. But it will bring it to a wider audience.

The description of D. D. Palmer as a "grocer and spiritual healer" inevitably brings Morris Stokes to mind...

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

The description of D. D. Palmer as a "grocer and spiritual healer" inevitably brings Morris Stokes to mind...

I like that! Thanks.

 

[Delscottio]

Article in the UK Daily Mail - basically a summary of the story so far. But it will bring it to a wider audience.

Ah it's interesting that the same judge was behind the Mosely ruling, the whole privacy rights vs freedom of speech argument is a bit of a mess in the UK.

 

[BillC]

Article in the UK Daily Mail - basically a summary of the story so far. But it will bring it to a wider audience.

For a populist newspaper, that's not a bad article. It's pretty clear what side of the debate they come down on.

 

[Dragon]

For a populist newspaper, that's not a bad article. It's pretty clear what side of the debate they come down on.

Yes, a pleasant surprise to see this in the Daily Wail . They'll have do a lot more of this stuff before I even think about forgiving them for their part in the MMR scare, though.

Back OT - this is definitely a Good Thing. The more mainstream coverage this case gets the better.

 

[Blue Wode]

A little more on the foundations of chiropractic and the manner in which some regulatory processes are conducted in the UK:
http://www.zenosblog.com/2009/07/can-you-hear-me-at-back.html

 

[Delscottio]

A little more on the foundations of chiropractic and the manner in which some regulatory processes are conducted in the UK:
http://www.zenosblog.com/2009/07/can-you-hear-me-at-back.html

I've only skim read the piece but does Zeno not contradict himself with which "cured" ailment started off this joke of a profession? I'll have a proper read later on, hopefully the pressure can be kept up.

 

[Blue Wode]

I've only skim read the piece but does Zeno not contradict himself with which "cured" ailment started off this joke of a profession? I'll have a proper read later on, hopefully the pressure can be kept up.

Your were right about the contradiction - it's been corrected.

For drive-by readers, you can find an excellent inventory of all the developments in the case here:
http://godknowswhat.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/simon-singh-case-response-roundup/

 

[Asolepius]

A little more on the foundations of chiropractic and the manner in which some regulatory processes are conducted in the UK:
http://www.zenosblog.com/2009/07/can-you-hear-me-at-back.html

So they call this regulation? Terribly similar to the Catholic Church. "Forgive me Father for I have sinned". In this case he didn't even have to say the Hail Maries.

 

[zeno2712]

I've only skim read the piece but does Zeno not contradict himself with which "cured" ailment started off this joke of a profession?

A minor slip of the brain! Thanks for noticing it! As Blue Wode said, I've corrected it.

 

[catbasket]

A little more on the foundations of chiropractic and the manner in which some regulatory processes are conducted in the UK:
http://www.zenosblog.com/2009/07/can-you-hear-me-at-back.html

My eyes are being pesky little tricksters today. I could have sworn I just read that on 26 January 2007 the GCC found "Dr" Cashley guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and less than six months later on 15 June 2007 the very same "Dr" Cashley was elected (unopposed) to the GCC's Council.

Those tricksy eyeballs are also trying to tell me the slogans on the GCC homepage read "Protecting patients" and "Setting standards". Though interestingly they report the phrase "Promoting the profession" which appears in News from fhe GCC Summer 07 is missing from the GCC homepage.

Which is odd. I could maybe give them "Promoting the profession" due to "promoting" "Dr" guilty of unacceptable professional conduct Cashley onto the GCC ... but this act is hardly "Protecting patients" or "Setting standards" imo.

 

[Blue Wode]

...interestingly they report the phrase "Promoting the profession" which appears in News from fhe GCC Summer 07 is missing from the GCC homepage.

Which is odd. I could maybe give them "Promoting the profession" due to "promoting" "Dr" guilty of unacceptable professional conduct Cashley onto the GCC ... but this act is hardly "Protecting patients" or "Setting standards" imo.

The GCC's duty to promote the profession was removed last summer (see Chairman's foreword):

“With effect from July 2008, our duty to promote the profession has been removed. This implements one of the recommendations of the White Paper ‘Trust, Assurance and Safety – The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century’, that health regulators should have a more consistent statutory purpose – that of protecting the public by setting and maintaining
professional standards.”

http://www.gcc-uk.org/files/page_file/ANNUAL_REPORT_2007_FINAL.pdf

However, it still fires off the odd letter to newspaper editors in an effort to combat negative publicity in the press, and apparently it has a regular half-page advert in the British Journal of General Practice:
http://northerndoctor.com/2009/07/03/chiropractic-and-ethics-in-the-bjgp/

BTW, here's Simon Singh discussing chiropractic on the Australian News today (approx. 10mins):
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/07/06/2618503.htm

 

[Blue Wode]

Another update:

GCC remove ‘What Can I Expect’ leaflet from website
http://holfordwatch.info/2009/07/06/gcc-remove-what-can-i-expect-leaflet/

 

[Delscottio]

A minor slip of the brain! Thanks for noticing it! As Blue Wode said, I've corrected it.

Don't mention it, I didn't want the chiro s to have an easy out.

 

[Lothian]

Another update:

GCC remove ‘What Can I Expect’ leaflet from website
http://holfordwatch.info/2009/07/06/gcc-remove-what-can-i-expect-leaflet/

I tired to leave a comment at that blog but not sure if it worked.

I don't think the the leaflet has been removed rather the address changed. They may also have removed it from the Advice/Information publication, I am not sure.

If you go to their last newsletter there is a link to the leaflet on page 8. Which takes you to the language choices. The English version is there.

 

[catbasket]

The GCC's duty to promote the profession was removed last summer (see Chairman's foreword):

<snip>

Thanks for the reminder, that had completely slipped my mind.

 

[Blue Wode]

More developments...

Over half of chiropractor colic web pages slashed & burnt
http://adventuresinnonsense.blogspot.com/2009/07/over-half-of-chiropractor-colic-web.html

Snippet -

I've got another letter ready to go to Trading Standards about the remaining web sites. But while the slash & burn continues I think I'll hold off for another week or so. I'm hoping to get a large number of signatories.


If you wish to sign the letter, please join this Facebook group. I'll message all members once the letter is ready to go, of course allowing you to read it before getting final confirmation for your name to be added.


If just 5 people signing letters can make this much difference, think how much difference hundreds can make. Please join the Facebook group.


The current version of the letter is available to view here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df7dstxw_13h5mxjwcf