If a procedure goes wrong, the chiropractor can be legally liable.
Chiropractors are medical professionals who use a physical approach to the relief of pain by focusing on the musculoskeletal system and the spinal cord in particular. The practice is based on a belief that the body can best heal itself if the nervous system is functioning; therefore, many ailments and pain stem from a malfunction in the vertebrae of the back. With proper manipulation, this can be relieved and the condition -- or potential condition -- resolved.
Skills
Chiropractics is considered an alternative medical practice. However, according to Best Alternative-Medicines, chiropractors are highly qualified professionals who have undergone undergraduate as well as postgraduate studies. National and state board examinations ensure the best and safest techniques are used.
Risks
The risks come mainly from being treated by someone whose background is not in chiropractics, according to Best Alternative-Medicines. This is a little confusing, especially because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says chiropractors must be licensed and have two to four years' undergraduate education, plus the completion of a four-year chiropractic college course, as well as passing scores on state and national examinations. Therefore, unless someone is operating illegally, he must be appropriately qualified and must have a background in chiropractics.
Safety
Chiropractics, as a holistic treatment, is generally safer than other cures because it doesn't involve surgery or sedation. It also costs less. However, some of these points may be misleading. Chiropractics only costs less in real terms if it provides the same medical outcome as surgery. Again, it's only "generally safer" if it can produce the same results as surgery or other cures. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases notes that for spinal stenosis, for example, the condition cannot be permanently changed by nonsurgical treatment. Alternatives, including chiropractics, may only bring temporary relief.
Some Statistics
Chiropractics involves the correction of spinal joints in the vertebrae. This means sometimes high levels of manipulation. If it's applied inappropriately or in the wrong place, it may damage the spinal cord. According to Baxter & Associates, 3 percent of chiropractors in the United States have a malpractice claim filed against them each year. Definitive statistics aren't available for physicians but one estimate, from the American Medical Association, suggests that on average 5 percent are sued each year, with 65 percent of claims dropped or dismissed.
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