The Conscious Breath

From Pathways Issue 44 - Winter 2014

Letter from the Editor

Jeanne Ohm, DC

Birth may be one of the most profound experiences we ever encounter. We try to plan and arrange what will happen, but with all birth comes the unknown. All natural processes follow a course that is not necessarily measurable and predictable. At these times we become challenged to choose between what we think is best and what is actually best. We teeter between trust and fear; our ability to access our higher knowing is put to the test.

When Tom and I were introduced to the chiropractic principle that life is intelligent, it resonated with both of us. We recognized that in this intelligent order, all beings had consciousness and purpose. Birth gives us the opportunity to viscerally experience this principle, and our six homebirths gave us the challenges, understanding and forthcoming assurances to deepen our trust in it.

So far, all of our children have chosen homebirths with midwives. Witnessing the births of their siblings and their own children has reinforced their experiences of life’s wisdom. They know that homebirth midwives, much like chiropractors, are the practitioners who resonate most strongly with these principles, which they value greatly. Midwives have a deep respect for life’s intelligent processes, and they have the respect and strength to follow its guidance. They too, have a strong certainty that babies are sentient beings who play a vital, conscious role in birth. And yet at every birth their confidence gets challenged. That’s how their strength gets even sturdier.

 Our sixth grandchild, as our first five, was born at home with our favorite midwife. Labor progressed steadily throughout the day. All was well. Late afternoon, our daughter-in-law was 8–9 centimeters dilated, and we began to prepare to meet the baby. Progress continued in a steady manner for a couple more hours, until the midwife announced the baby was in an incomplete breech presentation. Just the day before, the baby had been in the optimal, head-down position. Why had he shifted? With that announcement, the mom’s urge to push melted away. Was it the fear of breech? Or was it the perfect wisdom of her body slowing down to ease the breech baby out?

The midwife suggested that if we wanted to transfer to a hospital, the window to do so was right then. We hesitated. Maybe we were afraid of stepping into a panic-filled system. Or perhaps our inherent trust that all would be well kept us from moving. We teetered between our mental naggings and our higher sense of knowing. For the rest of the birth, we all got to witness a dance: between three chiropractors, two midwives, one sibling, two birthing parents and, yes, the baby. When one became apprehensive, another stepped up with assurance. When one showed anxiety, another relieved it with ease. When one displayed doubt, another demonstrated skill. At the same time, all of us were cognizant that the baby was also making choices. His heart rate stayed strong and he steadily moved down the canal. We were all challenged. We all faced doubt. We all submitted to the unsure outcome.

 One foot came out, and then the butt. His other leg was folded up; it exited with a flop. His heart tones remained consistent. Unusual to this type of breech, the arms were above the head. The midwife reached up to bring them down. Contractions stopped, and pushing was exhausting. The midwife stepped in again, assisting with the head. The baby came out, with the placenta following almost immediately.

 The midwife breathed into the blue baby; I adjusted his atlas. His mother told him she loved him. And he took his first breath...the pinkness of his body demonstrating the action of life’s longing for itself. He looked up at his mother with the wisdom of the ages. His lips curled into a smile.

It was one of the most beautiful, emotional, strengthening dances I have ever experienced. Each of us carrying the other, each of us doubting, and yet at the same time, trusting. Ultimately, we learned an even deeper respect for both the mother and baby’s innate wisdom.

Sample CCE Letters

MAKE YOUR LETTERS PERSONAL AND UNIQUE. This all has to be completed by Sept 15

Email your complaint to aslrecordsmanager@ed.gov with the subject line:

Written Comments RE: Council on Chiropractic Education

blind cc steve_tullius@yahoo.com to ensure we have records of your complaint.

Snail Mail your letter to:

National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality & Integrity
Office of Postsecondary Education
United States Department of Education
1990 K Street, NW
Room 8060
Washington, DC 20006

__________________________________________________________________

A FEW SAMPLE LETTERS ARE BELOW FOR YOUR REVIEW.


Three main issues need to be addressed: 1. The CCE is not representative of the profession., 2. CCE is attempting to move the practice of chiropractic into the practice of medicine., 3. CCE has attempted to mandate a medical education, which leads chiropractors to fail in practice.

*IMPORTANT* Do not copy and paste. Take the 10 minutes to make it unique. Does not have to be long. Just unique and personal. PLEASE REMAIN PROFESSIONAL IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS.

*IMPORTANT* blind cc steve_tullius@yahoo.com
to ensure that we have records of all communications

"In all instances, your comments about an agency's initial recognition or the renewal of recognition must relate to whether the agency meets the Criteria for Recognition."


The following letters contain example of violations of the "Criteria for Recognition" taken directly from the US Dept of Education website. (http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg13.html)

It is essential to include these points in the letter:
The CCE is in direct violation of the USDOE Criteria for Recognition

Section 602.13 - Acceptance of the agency by others

Recent changes to standards for the accreditation of chiropractic institutions will further reduce chiropractic towards a subset of medicine, having eliminated essential language which defines chiropractic as a separate and distinct philosophy, science, and art. According to institutions, faculty, and the profession at large, the term "subluxation" and the language "without drugs or surgery" are essential elements in defining chiropractic. I also agree that these are core elements to the value and effectiveness of chiropractic.


The CCE is in direct violation of the USDOE Criteria for Recognition

Section 602.14 - Purpose and organization &Section 602.15 - Administrative and fiscal responsibilities

There are direct financial and political conflicts of interest at the CCE which have been evidenced formerly in previous investigations. A very specific philosophical and political agenda is also apparent in the recent changes to the Standards described above.


The CCE is in direct violation of the USDOE Criteria for Recognition

Section 602.16 - Accreditation and preaccreditation standards

The standards and guidelines the CCE sets for the accreditation of institutions is not producing successful doctors of chiropractic, nor is this being monitored. With attrition rates being quite high, and defaults on student loans for chiropractic education even higher, graduates are not well prepared for success. It is no wonder that when taught medicine, graduates fail at chiropractic. The accreditation of institutions which are no longer required to teach the core principles and practice of chiropractic in their curriculum removes the very uniqueness that adds value for the public and makes chiropractic effective and efficient healthcare.


In sum, the CCE is no longer representative of the profession and has been exercising it's control to move the profession away from it's unique and core value as a distinct and effective approach to health and wellness.

*****IMPORTANT***** DO NOT COPY VERBATIM. Make it personal and unique to have the biggest impact. It does not have to be long and technical. You and our profession deserve the 10-15 min it takes to perform this simple yet profound act.

Here is a link to review these issues in detail: http://www.mccoypress.net/subluxation/docs/cce_fvs.pdf
______________________________________________________________________________

Dear Sir/Madame,

There has been trepidation by the United States Department of Education to address the political and inner workings of the chiropractic profession, or any profession. I understand this,however the CCE is no longer representative of the profession and their lack of regard to representing us has led us to the extreme measure of once again seeking your assistance in our internal issues. In my professional and personal opinion, the CCE has repeatedly violated your Criteria for Recognition, and in doing so, has sought to diverge from the core principles that make the chiropractic profession distinct. The violations are:

First, section 602.13 - Acceptance of the agency by others. “Acceptance” is something that requires a group to reflect the interests of the larger public that they intend to represent. In the recent reformation of their standards of accreditation, the CCE (willfully or otherwise) ignored the input of thousands of practicing doctors of chiropractic, the profession that they claim to represent. I personally wrote a letter, faxed a letter and phoned the organization personally, all to receive not even a modicum of response or compromise on the major issues presented. From personal interactions, I know of several hundred other doctors who received the same treatment from the CCE. If no amount of the representing public commenting can alter the opinions of the CCE, then the CCE does NOT have acceptance by others, they only have acceptance by their own set of standards. This is in violation of the principle of the accreditation process as a whole.

Second, Section 602.16 - Accreditation and preaccreditation standards. The CCE was given authority to accredit chiropractic colleges due to their niche within the healthcare world. In their recent reformation of their standards, the CCE has removed two principles that the chiropractic profession has legally defended for decades, namely the correction of subluxation and being a profession that does not use drugs or surgery. As their new standards do not include these defining characteristics of the profession, then the CCE has essentially made themselves a de facto medical board, thereby making them inappropriate to accredit chiropractic institutions. The chiropractic profession has dozens of civic and criminal legal cases in favor of being a separate and distinct profession based upon these two principles. By their own hand, they have removed their authority to accredit chiropractic institutions.

Thirdly, and this case is somewhat harder to make, these changes as I am describing above only have come as the result of repeated violations of Section 602.15 - Administrative and fiscal responsibilities. The CCE nomination and selection process has repeatedly demonstrated that it is subject to philosophical bias, financial influence, and nepotism. They have broken their fiduciary responsibility to represent the profession as a whole. This is best summarized by Dr Gerry Clum, DC, a former member of the CCE. He wrote:

"Think about the appointment process to the Council - people get nominated, they are vetted by a committee of the Council on ambiguous criteria, they are put on a ballot that allows preferences to come into play, then a decision is made by the people who already sit on the Council. The opportunity for in-breeding, and election of people who represent a given orientation in the profession versus another, is obvious." http://www.chiro.org/docs/cce_revision_clum.pdf

Without the administrative process to be open in selection and representative of the profession as a whole instead of those chosen according to ideological positions, the CCE has not standardized process to ensure that it can meet the criteria as outlined by the USDOE.

In closing, it is imperative that this cycle of infighting be stopped, but it appears the profession as a whole cannot do so. We have petitioned the CCE with our opinions, and they have ignored us. Many have vied for positions on the board, only to be denied due to ambiguous decisions processes. It appears that your committee and the governmental sponsorship of this group seem to be the only remaining source of true balance for this issue. I strongly urge to reprimand the CCE or revoke their right to ability to accredit chiropractic institutions if they are unable to reform their repeated violations of the Criteria for Recognition.

With Respect,

To Whom it May Concern:
Please accept my complaint to the US Department of Education (USDOE) against the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). It is my opinion and the opinion of many of my colleagues that The CCE is not representative of the chiropractic profession. In particular the CCE is attempting to change the practice of chiropractic into the practice of medicine.

Even as far back as 1986 when I graduated from chiropractic college, the schools, under the accreditation of CCE were severely lacking in a true chiropractic education, and favored a medical curriculum. If it were not for my being the son of a chiropractor, I am not sure that I would have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to provide my community a competent chiropractic service. Many gaps in what I believe I should have learned in chiropractic college were filled in by my dad and other older chiropractors who were willing to take the time to teach those of us who sought it out.

Unfortunately, not every student had the background that I had. This is evident in the high default rate among chiropractic college graduates. It is clear that the CCE did not ensure that our schools were providing an adequate education in order for the students to come out and succeed in practice.

It is important that any agency that wishes to accredit the schools of a profession do so in a manner that is consistent with the practice of that profession. CCE is trying to move chiropractic away from the detection and correction of subluxation, which is the primary function of the chiropractor. The CCE is trying to change chiropractic into the practice of medicine by removing wording that states that chiropractic is a profession that works "without drugs or surgery". This is unacceptable, as it was never the intention of the chiropractic profession, and it will not adequately take the place of practicing medical doctors whose job does involve the use of drugs and surgery.

The public and future generations deserve to benefit from the chiropractic profession and its unique service of detecting and correcting subluxations. If the CCE would like to represent this great profession then it should share that objective, not one of changing chiropractic into a duplication of medical practice with no more chiropractic available to the people of this world.

Thank you for considering my comments, and for dealing with the CCE in a manner that is proper,


_________________________________________


To Whom it May Concern:

Please accept my complaint to the US Department of Education (USDOE) against the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). It is my opinion and the opinion of many of my colleagues that The CCE is not representative of the chiropractic profession. In particular the CCE is attempting to change the practice of chiropractic into the practice of medicine.

When I graduated from chiropractic college, the schools, under the accreditation of CCE were severely lacking in a true chiropractic education, and favored a medical curriculum. This is evident in the high default rate among chiropractic college graduates. It is clear that the CCE did not ensure that our schools were providing an adequate education in order for the students to come out and succeed in practice.

It is important that any agency that wishes to accredit the schools of a profession do so in a manner that is consistent with the practice of that profession. CCE is trying to move chiropractic away from the detection and correction of subluxation, which is the primary function of the chiropractor. The CCE is trying to change chiropractic into the practice of medicine by removing wording that states that chiropractic is a profession that works "without drugs or surgery". This is unacceptable, as it was never the intention of the chiropractic profession, and it will not adequately take the place of practicing medical doctors whose job does involve the use of drugs and surgery.

The public and future generations deserve to benefit from the chiropractic profession and its unique service of detecting and correcting subluxations. If the CCE would like to represent this great profession then it should share that objective, not one of changing chiropractic into a duplication of medical practice with no more chiropractic available to the people of this world.
Thank you for considering my comments. I am certain you have received many letters that describe the many infractions and violations of the USDOE "Criteria for Recognition"


____________________________________________


To Whom it may concern:

I am a doctor of Chiropractic writing to file a complaint with the US Department of Education against the Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE).

The CCE has a troublesome stranglehold over the direction of modern Chiropractic education which is lowering the quality of practitioners that are being graduated by the Chiropractic schools. The educational standards that it promotes and enforces are not in line with the actual practice of Chiropractic in the United States and represent only a minority view of the profession at large.

I serve on the Board of Trustees for a Chiropractic college and I am appalled by the lack of focus on Chiropractic education by the CCE with instead an almost total focus on a medical education. Many of the things we are mandated to teach at our school have nothing to do with the practice of Chiropractic and instead create confusion in the mind of the student as to what the true role of a Chiropractor is.

Being that Chiropractors are obviously not qualified medical doctors the CCE medical education leads to failure in practice and a resulting high rate of default on student loans.

There are MANY medical courses that could be easily cut from the chiropractic curriculum. This would lower the cost of a chiropractic education and thus lower the default rate on student loans. This would be an enormous savings to the federal government in these tough economic times.

In addition a new focus on teaching an actual Chiropractic education would produce highly qualified Chiropractors. This would increase their success rates, lower the student loan default rates, and better serve Americans who choose Chiropractic care for their families.

I would be willing to form a knowledgeable group of educators and leaders in the Chiropractic profession whom could testify to the sad state of affairs and very poor Chiropractic educational programs that are currently being encouraged by the Council of Chiropractic Education. We could also offer effective solutions to this crisis in Chiropractic education.

Chiropractors are responsible for detecting, analyzing, and adjusting vertebral subluxations. Please work with us to provide an accrediting agency that ensures this rather then the current system which ensures costly failures to the government by training doctors of Chiropractic to be 3rd rate medical practitioners.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this manner.
___________________________________________________

To Whom It May Concern,

Please accept my comments to the US Department of Education (USDOE) concerning the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). I am a Chiropractor in Atlanta Georgia and have been for 6 years.
I am aware that you have received many complaints and letters, so mine will be brief, I will not speak to doctrinal issues, or political differences. I will simply ask that you hold the CCE accountable to USDOE requirements.

There are many requirements that I believe the CCE is not meeting, but I will focus on only one here.

To my understanding, it is a requirement for the CCE to take into account comments made during the period PRIOR to their adoption of new educational standards.
In their recent changes, they did not take into account comments from the profession, and if they did, we were completely disregarded. It amazes me that so many voices were ignored!

They made changes against the will of not only thousands of practitioners, but also the International Chiropractors Association, The American Chiropractic Association, 7 to 9 schools of chiropractic, And also my state association the Georgia Council of Chiropractic. Is this acceptable by your standards?

Thank you,

___________________________________________________

To Whom it May Concern:
I am doctor of chiropractic writing today to file a complaint with the US Department of Education (USDOE) against the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) for the following infractions and violations of the USDOE "Criteria for Recognition" 1:

* Lack of consideration of the opinions of the profession at large and students in particular as witnessed with the recent adoption of new CCE Standards. 2-6 This is particularly disconcerting as the new Standards have essential language such as subluxation, nearly removed, as well as any reference to chiropractic being "without the use of drugs or surgery." The Association of Chiropractic Colleges considers both to be essential elements of their paradigm statement. 7 How can a graduate expect to succeed in clinical practice when the detection and correction of subluxation is not considered a meta-compentency yet considered essential to the colleges and profession at large? Removing the language "without drugs or surgery" serves to move the profession closer to the inclusion of drugs, which has become an increasing political and philosophical battle this past year. As a doctor of chiropractic, I wish for chiropractic to remain drugless. The failure of the CCE to recognize and respond appropriately to the wishes of the institutions, faculty and practitioners is a direct violation of section 602.13 Acceptance of the agency by others.

* Failure to adequately assess the competency of chiropractic colleges in producing graduates who will succeed in clinical practice. With chiropractic student loans at 53.8% of all the Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) loans that are in default according to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), it is clear that the CCE is not ensuring that the colleges are producing a curriculum that gives students a realistic chance at success post graduation. 8 According to a study conducted in the state of California, attrition rates for chiropractors are as high as 25%. 9 Others remark on the same theme. 10, 11, 12 The failure of the CCE to accredit institutions and mold their curriculums that produce graduates that will succeed in practice is a direct violation of section 602.16 Accreditation and preaccreditation standards.

* While the CCE has developed a "Guideline for DCP Assessment of Learning of Meta-Competencies," 13 those guidelines are predominantly based on passing of exams by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. This is a cyclical problem as the CCE dictates the curriculum, the NBCE writes the test and the colleges most then teach to the test. In this way, chiropractic curriculums and resultantly the profession, are being diverted towards a particular political and philosophical agenda. As cited above, the CCE is not "promoting academic excellence and not ensuring the quality of chiropractic education" in a meaningful way as per the CCE's purpose stated in section 2 of the CCE Standards. Dr. Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., has referred to the increasing medical curriculum in chiropractic education which is being mandated by the CCE as "an academic impediment that unknowingly destabilizes their students and hobbles their graduates' effectiveness." 14 As a former student and now doctor of chiropractic, I can attest to that curriculum being insufficient in teaching the core principles and practice of chiropractic, as can the many graduates referenced above who were unable to succeed in practice. This is another example of a violation of 602.16 Accreditation and preaccreditation standards.
* CCE Policy 18 in the CCE Manual refers to Conflicts of Interest stating, "Councilors, Academy of Site Team Visitors, Member Representatives, CCE Administrative Office staff; other CCE representatives; and consultants retained by CCE; shall not engage in activities that would result in a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest that would affect their ability to be impartial and objective with their CCE-related duties or that would result in personal gain to themselves." This has long been a complaint against the CCE for violating this standard. As was seen with the Life University situation in 2002, councilors were making decisions with direct financial conflicts of interest and most recently, changes to the Standards reflect a particular philosophical and political agenda. The rampant conflicts of interest in the CCE is a violation of sections 602.14 Purpose and organization and 602.15 Administrative and fiscal responsibilities.

* From the CCE Manual of Policies 15 comes the following statement: "If the Council determines that a CCE-accredited DCP is making incorrect, misleading or misrepresentation of public statements about its accreditation status, the contents of site visit reports, DCP effectiveness, success of graduates and/or Council accrediting actions, the Council will act to have the DCP publicly correct the statements within a specified time frame." This is of particular concern as National University of Health Sciences has publicly advertised their program as a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine Program and sought the approval of various state boards to allow this distinction. No such program has ever been accredited by the CCE, yet a CCE announcement dated March 3, 2010 reflects a "Reaffirmation of Accreditation" of National's "Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine Program." 16 This is a clear violation by of the CCE's Standards by National University as well as by the CCE of section 602.18 Ensuring consistency in decision-making.

In addition to the above, CCE is in violation of the "Member Code of Good Practice" document found within the CCE Council Manual. 17 Specifically the CCE has:


* Failed to demonstrate "respect for the complex interrelationships involved in the pursuit of excellence by individual institutions or programs." This is witnessed by the lack of proper representation of various segments of the profession as well as the requiring of a curriculum reflective of narrow interests and political action. Violation of sections 602.14 Purpose and organization and 602.15 Administrative and fiscal responsibilities.

* Violated, and not exhibited a "system of checks and balances in its standards development and accreditation procedures." The recent disregard of the unprecedented feedback from the profession regarding the CCE proposed Standards clearly demonstrates that no checks and balances is in place. Violation of section 602.16 Accreditation and preaccreditation standards.

* Failed to "serve as a unifying body for the chiropractic profession" as per CCE mission statement. There is as much, if not more division within our profession today as ever. This after 50 years of CCE operation, since its incorporation in 1971.

The CCE is not representative of the profession. It has a long history of conflicts of interest and advancement of philosophical and political agendas. A simple search of the names of the councilors of the CCE in the two national, and ideological opposed chiropractic associations (ACA and ICA) reveals that out of the 18 doctors of chiropractic that are councilors, 9 are members of the ACA while there are zero from the ICA. The election process of the CCE is riddled with conflicts of interest and outright attempts to keep the profession under the control of the reigning body and their political agenda.

Past-president and former member of the CCE, Gerry Clum recently had this to say regarding the election process, "Think about the appointment process to the Council - people get nominated, they are vetted by a committee of the Council on ambiguous criteria, they are put on a ballot that allows preferences to come into play, then a decision is made by the people who already sit on the Council. The opportunity for in-breeding, and election of people who represent a given orientation in the profession versus another, is obvious." 18

James Edwards, past ACA chairman, also commented in regards to this saying, "This incestuous selection process has failed to produce CCE board and council members who are willing and able to represent the mainstream positions of the majority of doctors of chiropractic, the majority of chiropractic colleges, and both national chiropractic membership organizations. And until CCE changes its electoral process, it will remain an organization without any moral authority to speak for the chiropractic profession." 19

Clearly, the CCE is operating as the "cartel" and "monopoly" as Dr. Denardis, one of the individuals hearing the case for the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity at the last reaccreditation hearing stated, "Battles over turf, battles over philosophy, maybe battles over personal ambition, but divisions of every kind. And some of this, maybe most of it, is a consequence of, at least as I see it, a monopoly control of a profession which has led to the establishment of a virtual cartel..." 20

The CCE is advancing a curriculum that is not consistent or congruent with the practice of chiropractic and is actually antagonistic to chiropractic principles. It leads the public to believe that we are treating their "diagnosed condition" with chiropractic care. This becomes a liability and can become a danger to the public. This approach encroaches into other therapeutic fields that are outside the scope of practice of chiropractic. Christopher Kent has given an excellent example of a curriculum that reflects the practice of chiropractic and would help ensure the success of our graduates. 21

I feel that as a doctor of chiropractic, I do not need and it does not serve me, or the public, to duplicate what already exists. The education and service the CCE is advancing through their mandatory curriculum is nearly identical to one received in physical therapy and physiatry.

I feel that the CCE has not giving educational freedom and institutional autonomy to the chiropractic institutions and is supporting or accommodating a specific philosophical or political position by seeking to transform chiropractic into or towards a medical discipline.

I am requesting that the CCE cease and desist its "redefining of chiropractic" as recently proposed. It is beyond the CCE mandate to do so.

I am requesting a proper resolution to the above complaints, as to date, no actions have been taken to ensure that these sorts of abuses do not continue. I am asking for a reformation of the CCE governing body or the dissolution of the CCE with the formation of a new accrediting body with a grace period to establish such a body. This is the only way to ensure proper representation of the profession as the CCE has clearly shown they are not capable of following the Criteria of Recognition that the USDOE has establish.

Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.

References:

1. "Criteria for Recognition" taken directly from the US Dept of Education website:http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg13.html
2. Edwards, J. The Profession Has Spoken ... But Will the CCE Listen? Dynamic Chiropractic - December 2, 2010, Vol. 28, Issue 25
3. Outpouring of Comments to CCE Marks Deep Profession-Wide Concern Over Future of Chiropractic Education, ICA http://members.chiropractic.org/asset/docs/OutpouringofCommentstoCCEFeature.pdf
4. Clum, G. Open letter to the profession regarding proposed changes to the CCE Standards http://www.chiro.org/docs/cce_revision_clum.pdf
5. Edwards, J. The Profession Has Spoken ... But Will the CCE Listen? Dynamic Chiropractic - December 2, 2010, Vol. 28, Issue 25 http://www.jamesedwards.com/CCE2.pdf
6. CCE Accreditation Standards - Principles, Processes & Requirements for Accreditation January 2012 http://www.cce-usa.org/uploads/2012-01_CCE_STANDARDS.pdf
7. Association of Chiropractic Colleges Paradigm Statement http://www.chirocolleges.org/paradigm_scope_practice.html
8. Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) - Defaulted Borrowers http://defaulteddocs.dhhs.gov/discipline.asp
9. Foreman SM, Stahl MJ. The attrition rate of licensed chiropractors in California: an exploratory ecological investigation of time-trend data.Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 2010;18:24.
10. McDonald, W., K. Durkin, S. Iseman, et al. 2003. How Chiropractors Think and Practice. Ada, Ohio: Ohio Northern University.
11. Mirtz T, Hebert J, Wyatt L. Attitudes of non-practicing chiropractors: a pilot survey concerning factors related to attrition, Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 2010,18:29, www.chiroandosteo.com/content/18/1/29.
12. Kent, C. Is There an Oversupply of DCs? Dynamic Chiropractic - October 7, 2010, Vol. 28, Issue 21
13. Manual of Policies of The Council on Chiropractic Education January 2011 http://www.cce-usa.org/uploads/2011-01_Manual_of_Policies.pdf
14. Lipton, B. The Science of Innate Intelligence, 2002. http://w3.palmer.edu/strang/Philosophy112/Documents/Dr.%20Lipton%20Article.doc
15. CCE Manual of Policies - http://www.cce-usa.org/uploads/2011-01_Manual_of_Policies.pdf
16. CCE ANNOUNCEMENT -ACCREDITATION ACTIONS Annual Council Meeting January 15-17, 2010http://www.mccoypress.net/mccoy/docs/national_dcm_program.pdf
17. CCE Council Manual January 2010 - http://www.cce-usa.org/uploads/2010-01_Council_MANUAL.pdf
18. Clum G. "The Latest Stuff From Gerry." Jan. 31, 2011, Vol. 11, No. 14.
19. Edwards, J. Exposing the CCE Charade, Dynamic Chiropractic - April 9, 2011, Vol. 29, Issue 08http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=55252
20. Betz, J. CCE "Cartel" is at it Again , AJCC 9/15/2010 http://www.chiropractic-biophysics.com/clinical_chiropractic/2010/9/15/cce-cartel-is-at-it-again.html
21. Kent, C. A New Direction for the CCE?, Dynamic Chiropractic - November 18, 2010, Vol. 28, Issue 24 http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=55021

Illness or Normal Body Function

From Pathways Issue 10 - Summer 2006

Letter from the Editor
Jeanne Ohm, DC

I just spent the last several days in bed with a flu and raging fever. The first day I sulked. Who needs this? The second day I fasted on fruit and water. Temperatures were elevating and there were moments of delirium. I anxiously awaited the pinnacle of letting a fever run its course – the break into a full body sweat. I am a firm believer in allowing symptoms to run their course and avoiding suppression with drugs, because that suppression only drives the illness deeper. The flu is a viral overload. The body raises the temperature to the specific degree it needs to be at to address that overload. A healthy system is able to handle these temperature elevations and they are a sign of normal body function. The more toxicity in the body, however, the more difficult the whole process becomes.

By the third day, I was still in the dry heat/chills stage. I was becoming a bit concerned. Where was the sweat? Where was the breaking point? I couldn’t last too much longer with these elevating temperatures. What is the boiling point of human body fluids?

I began to consume ginger root tea by the jarful. Somehow the burning sensation of the ginger was mild compared to the heat of my body. It was soothing to the chills. The flavor, the warmth, the liquid- it was the first drink that my body kept going back for more. And so I did. Several, spicy jars later, I intimately experienced visceral effects of ginger. It aided in heat production! My skin temperature reached a level comparable to a hot griddle. And then finally, the glorious sweat came– oceans of it poured out of me. Now I craved water. I was envious of fish. Truly they lived the glorious life. Then I knew to restore my electrolyte balance and I selected miso soup.

Here is my purpose in sharing this. All in all I had four days of what could be considered “an awful illness”. In reality, I was given an opportunity to do a complete cleansing fast, experience what was very comparable to a sweat lodge, to be alone, reflect on old patterns that needed to change – wow—very similar to some of the healing retreats out there all in the comforts of my own home!

The reason why I was hit so hard by this was because my body was in need of a housecleaning. Do you remember Dr. Phil Incao’s article, “Not a Battle but a Housecleaning” (Pathway’s Issue 6)? In his article he discusses the importance of these “house cleanings” and when we neglect to initiate them on our own, our bodies will do us the service. I had innately known this, and was planning a time of pulling myself “away from it all” and do a major meditative, restorative detox. As life would have it, I kept saying “next week”, “soon”, “after this project”. The wonderful wisdom of my body had a clearer insight into my needs and seized this time as perfect. How fulfilling to allow my body to complete this process without suppressing and hindering it.

This is most important point I want to leave you with: the huge value of allowing an “illness” to run its course without suppressing its symptoms. Reread Dr. Incao’s article. His perspective may be life saving in your ability to turn “illness” into “a healing retreat”. Also, in this issue of Pathways, pay close attention to Dr. Moskowitz’s article. He explains vaccines do not enhance immunity, but through suppression actually hinder normal immune system function. When “choosing to vaccinate or not” our concerns about the thimerosal, the age of the child, the amount of dosages per shot, or selectively choosing shots are minor compared to the effects of irreversibly altering this wonderful mechanism we call the immune system.

Our Strength is in Our Knowing

There has been quite a stir lately about fluoride in drinking water. I am glad to see this get this public attention-- it is an issue that needs consumer action. However, I do want to point out, that chiropractors have known about this and have advised the public about this issue for years.

Back in chiropractic school, my husband and I did a presentation on fluoride in class. It was set up in debate format, similar to Saturday Night Lives's: Point Counterpoint, a parody of CBS's 60 minutes broadcast of the late 70's. If you remember, the SNL reporters were: Dan Akroyd (the conservative) and Jane Curtin (the liberal). Dan usually began his arguments with the line, "Jane, you ignorant slut."

Even back then, there was significant information for us to fulfill a 15 minute debate on the issue. (It was quite a bit more difficult to access info then as it is today... remember searching microfilms for articles in the library as opposed to googling?) In our skit, Tom was Dan, I was Jane. Of course we held to their sarcastic/ NY/ in your face style. Of course Tom used the line, "Jeanne, you ignorant slut" to cause an uproar in our class.

Point being, is that chiropractors were privy to the harms of fluoride and we avoided public drinking water getting our water from nearby springs. As soon as we graduated and had the money (there weren't student loans back then...) we bought a reverse osmosis water system and have had one ever since.

Here is an article I wrote years ago along these lines....

Our Strength is in Our Knowing

More often than not, it has been our experience as chiropractors to watch an issue of truth come to the masses--a very issue we as chiropractors knew all along to be so! Think about a few of these issues which DCs have known to be true and have recently gained public popularity and acceptance--even medical approval!

More often than not, it has been our experience as chiropractors to watch an issue of truth come to the masses--a very issue we as chiropractors knew all along to be so! Think about a few of these issues which DCs have known to be true and have recently gained public popularity and acceptance--even medical approval!

Body movement is one which comes to mind. DCs have long taught the importance of keeping the body in motion for both healing and regeneration. Exercise became the buzz word of the 90's. Right along with this has come the consciousness to eat better. I can think back to my student days in the early 80's and recall my first intro to good foods coming from DCs. The rest of the world thought we were crazy to be somewhat conscientious about what we put into our bodies. Today, nutrition is becoming vogue and accepted as an ingredient to health.!

Another issue was our innate apprehension about antibiotics and their complicated effects preceded the inkling that a greater scientific law was being tampered with. The 90's brought out study after study warning of the dangers of antibiotic usage. One need only to look back to BJ's writings in the 50's to realize that from a chiropractic standpoint, antibiotics were destined to be shown up as causes of further complications.

As chiropractors, our history and perspective on health and wholeness has always shown us reason to doubt, fear and most importantly refuse vaccines. Today, there are more and more groups out there becoming leery of vaccines and obtaining the scientific data to support their concerns. Now lets be realistic here--it hasn't been the sole effort of DCs which has gotten these messages out to the public, but it has been our diligence to communicate and our unfaltering knowing which has greatly contributed to the public finding out about these issues. The little bit each and every one of us does, adds up to a momentous tide for change.


What I want to point out is another one of those bits of knowledge we as DC's know to be true. It needs our attention, because as with all of our concerns for humanity, the lives of many depend on it. Thanks to the works of some greats in our profession, the significance of the birth process as the first cause of subluxation was brought to the attention of the world. Teachers like Dr. Joe Flesia gave us the research and educational tools to support the hypothesis and the devastating effects of VSC at birth Others, like Dr. Arno Burnier provided us with the passion and commitment to educate our patients about birth. Still others like Dr. Larry Webster equipped us with adjusting technique, skills and equipment. He taught us how to prevent traumatic birth with specific maternal adjustments and how to analyze and correct subluxations in infants and children.

What I hope to do here is to bring you closer to the devastating effects a traumatized birth can have on the life of a child. First, I would like to look at some of the atrocities which lead to trauma at birth. In our country, women are led to believe they are having a "natural birth" if their eyes are open. Local anesthesia, spinal taps, episiotomies, induced labors and birth positions which go against gravity and anatomy are all considered part of a normal, natural birth. With fear tactics and intimidation, women have been led to compromise one of the most powerful experience they will ever have. When women's natural capacities are violated like this, the birth process becomes a painful, traumatic, unnatural procedure for both the mother and baby. The effects of this type of birth on the newborn can be life-threatening, indeed.

One only needs to look at some birth pictures or videos to realize the undo force applied to the baby's neck and spine. It's amazing how gentle everyone is with the child's spine and head when passing a newborn from one to another, and in contrast, how brutal the actual birth procedures may have been just minutes before! The force applied with forceps and vacuum extraction is far beyond any force you could imagine exerting on a delicate newborn spine. As chiropractors, we can look at these procedures in horror and shudder at their probable effects.

As professionals interested in research results, we can read medical studies which support the theory that the birth process is a life threatening experience. One such report "Latent Spinal Cord and brain Stem Injury in Newborn Infants" by Abraham Towbin MD published in Dev. Med Child Neurology tells us that "the birth process even under optimal controlled conditions is potentially a traumatic, crippling event for the fetus." He goes on to tell us that "Survival of the newborn is governed mainly by the integrity and function of the vital centers in the brain stem. Yet, paradoxically, the importance of injury at birth to the brain stem and spinal cord are matters which have generally escaped lasting attention."

These are serious statements and are certainly supportive of our suspicion that modern birthing procedures in this country are indeed life-threatening to infants. Just how life threatening is my thought proposal for you now. Several years ago, while attending a vaccination seminar, a homeopathic MD was reviewing the relationship between SIDS and the DPT shot. The latest medical studies on SIDS was drawing a substantial connection between a baby's sleeping position as a possible cause of SIDS. It was being considered, that placing a child on its back reduced the incidence of SIDS. Being firmly fixed on the DPT vaccine/SIDs relationship (which I am in no way discrediting) he looked at it as nonsense. My chiropractic antenna went up and so did my hand. I explained to him the idea that placing a child on its stomach to sleep causes undo stress to the cervical spine as the child's head needs to be turned one way or another. Combining this biomechnanically unsound position with an even slightly traumatic birth could be the insult added to injury that affects the spinal cord's respiratory centers in such a way as to cause SIDS. Sound plausible? Towbin's other report, "Spinal Injury Related to the Syndrome of Sudden Death In Infants" published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology supports the relationship between birth trauma and SIDS. This study, too was published in the 60's. Yet today, if you ask the "SIDS experts", they will tell you no known cause exists, just make sure you place your child on its back--for whatever reason.

If you are detecting cynicism, yes, I do confess. Perhaps it is because more children die of SIDS in a year than all who die of cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined! It is also because when searching a website called "Child Secure" under their SIDS section, they not only held to the medically protected theory that there is no known cause for SIDs, they further slandered Chiropractors and their theory connecting birth trauma and SIDS as "old wives tales and ignorance". (Look it up yourself if you want a blood pressure surge). The defensiveness points that we may be onto something big here.

Well folks, here we are again- faced with an issue which needs our immediate attention and efforts to bring it into play. As always, we must continue to educate. Patients are not aware how damaging the birth process can be. Women need to be reoriented about birth and what they can do to regain their say in this crucial event in their child's life. We need to do what we can to help prevent these harmful births from happening. Our adjusting skills need to be fine-tuned to work more specifically and effectively with children. Makin' Miracles is working to provide chiropractors with the opportunities to make an impact on birth trauma. As I travel each weekend to different cities around the world, I am privileged to share accumulated knowledge with the attendees about adjusting infants and pregnant mothers. It is a wonderful thing that we as DC's can make a correction to an infant's spine, remove interference to the nervous system and watch the infant's body heal and repair from the damaging effects of birth. It is even a greater thing however when we have the skills to adjust the mother throughout pregnancy, remove interference to her nervous system, help balance her pelvic muscles and ligaments and allow her to have an easier, safer delivery because of it.

Every day we get up and draw on our inner strength to face the masses--to be the one voice among the noisy crowd. Amongst the confusion and the chaos and the resistance, we get up and we do what we know we have to do. Sometimes we soar ahead, and sometimes we are knocked back a few steps. Then there are the times we wonder if we are really making a difference at all. Those are the times most critical-- those are the times we must not just simply hold on, but realize the tremendous impact we have made and must continue to make in this world.

Applaud yourself--you deserve it! We are the one clear voice in the turbulent, noisy crowd. What we have to offer is life giving. We need only to perfect the skills of our hands and draw from the strength of our hearts. In this way, we will continue to make a world of difference.

Many, many blessing,
Jeanne

Vaccine Release Forms

It has become obvious, there will be a major push for the swine flu this fall. Strong recommendations will be made to our patients and it is important they are prepared to discuss these issues with their pediatricians and prepared with their potential responses.

1- Not too long ago, the AAP came up with a "vaccine release" form they suggested pediatricians have parents sign if they refuse to vaccinate. Legal council advises parents do not sign the form.

The entire form is questionable, (see link below for entire form) however this one statement is particularly concerning and may have significant future legal implications for the parent: "If my child does not receive the vaccine(s) according to the medically accepted schedule, the consequences may include.... Transmitting the disease to others. "

In essence, by signing, the parent is agreeing they are putting other children at risk because they have not vaccinated their child. Even though there is no substantial evidence for this, no parent should be putting themselves into this position of liability.

2- If a pediatrician then tells a parent they must sign this form, or they cannot stay in their practice, the parent can rebut by pointing out to the pediatrician they are aware that the refusal of care is not in accordance with AAP policy.

First, the AAP does not require parents to sign this form, it is only a suggestion.

Second: point out this to the pediatrician, " Doctor, I suggest you refer to the RED BOOK on Pediatric Infectious Disease from the AAP, page 8 - it talks about how to approach parents like myself who do not want to vaccinate. It says NOT to kick us out of the office. It also says it's OK to develop a compromised schedule for those parents requesting that option. So, the official AAP policy is that it is OK to work with parents like myself and to ultimately allow us to decline vaccines if we want to."

3- The parent can enter the office very proactively and if the doctor asks for a form to be signed, or tells you care in their office will not be administered with out signature or vaccination compliance, the following form would be appropriate to hand over and say," when you sign this, I can consider signing yours"
(see below)
Of course the parent will not get a signature from the doctor, however the form may, just may get the pediatrician thinking.
(Another use for the form is topic of conversation in our own practices... thanks Dr Angela DiMartino for posting this to facebook)

Resources:
1- AAP Refusal to Vaccinate Form: http://www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/RefusalToVaccinate.pdf

2- Pediatrician Form http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=78496227647&id=1042453691&ref=mf

Intro to the Blog

So, they have convinced me to start a blog. What I want to know is where did that word come from?? Sounds like some sort of sci-fi creature in a movie.

That aside, the purpose of this blog is to disseminate useful blurbs (I like that word better) relevant to vitalistic chiropractic: philosophy, science, art, practice, public education and more. Much coversation will be sparked by my facebook posts, experience in practice, my interaction with other chiropractors and holistic providers and happenings in the profession.

Interested? Join in and lets go for a ride!