Liebenson and Ethics

I have applied to join my first professional society, ISCRS.  This acronym stands for, International Society of Clinical Rehabilitation Specialists.

You can find the ISCRS website here:  http://www.clinicalrehabspecialists.com/

I came upon this society when I was researching rehabilitation seminars on Craig Liebenson, DC's website.  If you haven't heard of this guy, you should check out his work.  He has authored a number of books on rehabilitation and manual medicine.

Usually, I shy away from DC's that publish books because many have an agenda and that agenda is typically an anti-medical, pro-subluxation theory agenda.  On the contrary, Dr. Liebenson has helped to integrate evidence-based chiropractic into the medical world via his consistent publishing of journal articles and books.  I respect his work and I am proud to join a multidiscipline society that advocates this ideology.

With that, I am awaiting approval by the board of directors and when approved, I will gain access to the site which will give me access to JBMT (Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy) and JMT (Journal of Manual Therapy).  The site also has numerous articles and fact sheets for common musculoskeletal conditions we treat daily.

If we approach chiropractic in a musculoskeletal manner versus a business manner, we will be more successful and much more respected in society.  When people think of the word chiropractic, most think about low back pain.  Many even think we are musculoskeletal specialists, which is what we are.  When it comes to practice, there is a line we must not cross and that line is one of ethical choice.  Defining ourselves becomes tricky due to the hazy definition of alternative medicine and the type of business model each DC adheres to.

My hunch is that many DC's practicing alternative medicine are good at what they do and they should keep doing it.  While others adhere to a marketing theory that puts butts on benches in their exam rooms through public deception.  The ethical approach to alternative medicine that I witness and practice a little at the CIC, is to aid the patient in what ails them musculoskeletally, while educating them on the benefits of self-care and nutritional therapies.  It isn't about going against medicine or deception, it is about giving options that are less risky and less invasive that create therapeutic outcomes similar to pharmaceutical invervention.  Knowing when to NOT intervene conservatively and advocate pharmacy instead, is a complex paradigm.  Thankfully, a large portion of our education is on the understanding of physiology and nutrition.

Chiropractic is a mixed bag.  However, when practiced ethically (for the good of the patient vs. our pocket books), it is a wonderful profession.

All for now