DOCTORS have accused some chiropractors of undermining public health policy by supporting a discredited anti-vaccination group and directing patients to the site for information.
Chiropractors are the biggest professional supporters of the anti-vaccination group the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN).
Last year, the Health Care Complaints Commission issued a public warning about the AVN after it found the group was spreading misinformation about childhood vaccination.
The AVN refused to comply with the HCCC's recommendation that they place "a statement in a prominent position on its website" outlining their anti-vaccination stance and was subsequently stripped of its charitable status.
Of the network’s 198 professional members, 128 are registered chiropractors. Many are members of the professional body the Chiropractor’s Association of Australia, or CAA.
“Our professional members are our life's blood - literally!,” AVN founder Meryl Dorey said on her website.
"Professional subscribers help spread the word about informed choice in ways that very few others can or will…they distribute our information to their clients."
Dr Brian Morton from the Australian Medical Association said it was “reprehensible (some) chiropractors support the anti-vaccination lobby” and they should not have access to Medicare rebates and taxpayer subsidies from private health insurers.
“We should not have this double standard where (some) health professionals actively undermine other public health programs like vaccination,” Dr Morton said.
"It should not be supported by taxpayer’s dollars."
Under the Medicare allied health initiative, chiropractors received close to $7 million last year and private insurers paid out $57 million to chiropractors in the June quarter alone.
Immunologist Professor John Dwyer said many chiropractors had moved away from treating back pain.
“It is totally unacceptable that tax dollars should go anywhere near the pockets of people who advocate not to immunise children,” Professor Dwyer said.
"It is the cornerstone of the Government’s health care policy."
John Reggars, a practicing chiropractor who does not support the anti-vaccination message, said some "fundamentalists" in the industry had abandoned a scientific approach to practice in favour of "pseudo religious beliefs" that adjusting the spine allows the body to fix itself.
“About a third of the industry thinks that if you have chiropractic treatment your immune function improves and you don’t need vaccination,” Mr Reggars said.
One chiropractor in Surry Hills, Rebecca Bowring, who specialises in paediatrics, offers half-price consultations to members of the AVN.
"I haven’t immunised my own children but I wouldn’t advise parents either way,” Ms Bowring said.
"I just urge them to get information and make an informed choice."
The Chiropractors Association of Australia refused to take an official position on vaccination and told news.com.au that the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (NSW) did not have an official position on vaccination.
Rachael Dunlop, a biologist, attended a vaccination information seminar held by Newtown chiropractor and CAA NSW vice-president Nimrod Weiner six months ago.
“Over two hours we were told that vaccinations caused autism and brain damage and as we were leaving we were given a pamphlet that said ‘18 reasons not to vaccinate',” the 40-year-old from Petersham said.
Mr Weiner told news.com.au that he did support the science of vaccination and was not anti-vaccination.
"What we want is for parents to make an informed decision, we do give workshops and we do discuss the science of immunity," he said.
The CAA’s research arm, the Spinal Research Foundation recently invited Meryl Dorey from the AVN as guest speaker at a conference in Brisbane.
“I spoke with some third-generation chiropractors whose parents and grandparents were pioneers of this healing art in Australia,” she wrote on her site.
"Many of them are completely unvaccinated and they just glowed … They are the best advertisement for chiropractic and natural health you could possibly get."
The AMA called on Federal Health Minister to review Medicare payments to chiropractors who supported the anti-vaccination lobby.
A spokesperson for Nicola Roxon said chiropractors must adhere to their Code of Conduct, which includes clear directions on promoting public health through prevention and separating personal views from patient care.
Click to expand...