Auckland Doctors On Chiropractors

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 16

Auckland Doctors On Chiropractors

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 26. Representations that the legislation on chiropractors now before Parliament is a danger to the health of the people are supported by the Auckland and North Shore divisions of the British Medical Association, according to a statement by Dr. E. H. Roche, the Auckland president.

‘‘While designed to assist chiropractors to 'put their house in order,’ the act give* them registration, which means official recognition,” said Dr. Roche. “The Government is, therefore, sponsoring a group which doe* not have the basic training in scientific disciplines (which centuries of medical experience have proved necessary) not in the diagnosis of internal disease.

“That chiropractors can relieve certain kinds of ‘painful back’ is admitted. If they would confine themselves to this field there would be much less possibility of harm,” said Dr. Roche. “There would, however, still be danger in the occasional case where the pain in the back was the result of unsuspected internal disease.” In any case, the same treatment could be just as effectively given by orthopaedic surgeons, said Dr. Roche. Doctors who practised physical medicine, and registered physiotherapists (who acted only under medical direction) gave the patient the safeguard of a medical diagnosis and the advantage that manipulation might be combined, when necessary, with other forms of treatment.

If, for the protection of the public, chiropractors were required, aa in West Germany, to take a medical de. gree, all i>ppo«ition would cease. “It is extremely difficult for laymen to assess the value

of any form of treatment for internal disease. Everyone is urged to support the medical profession in asking for a Royal Commission to investigate this very Important matter,” Dr. Roche said.

“A judge presiding over a few persons with scientific training, but not doctors, would be able to understand and evaluate the evidence, and could be expected to reach a sound conclusion in the best interests of the people of New Zealand,” he said.