Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, The Liberal, Copyright 1987


In the March 28 edition of The Liberal, a letter appeared on the complaints page.

Because I feel I must defend myself and answer some criticism leveled against me, the column I had planned on Sunday will have to wait. This was a quiz, and will appear next week instead. It was going to be lots of fun, but first things first.

For those of you who missed the letter to the editor, suffice to say that Ms. Wolburgh was upset that a column I had written about the side effects of ultrasound appeared in the paper directly beside an article about physiotherapists.

She claims that I implied a lack of knowledge on the part of physiotherapists. She claimed that I deliberately attempted to undermine the publicity article on ‘National Physiotherapy Week’. She also feels that I made an insensitive comment when I used the words “your average dumb hockey player.” Let’s address each of these facts individually.

The article I wrote about ultrasound was an answer to a question from a hockey player who was having ultrasound applied to his knee ligaments. When he asked his physiotherapist for some details about what exactly was happening with the ultrasonic waves, she couldn’t tell him. He then asked me to explain some facts. Just because this particular physiotherapist couldn’t, or wouldn’t explain something to a patient doesn’t imply a lack of knowledge throughout the entire profession.

If a teacher can’t answer a question, does that imply all teachers can’t? If a doctor can’t diagnose a problem, does that mean all doctors similarly can’t diagnose the problem? We were discussing one therapist, not the whole profession.

Ms. Wolburgh, instead of writing to The Liberal, you should write to the clinic involved and find out why that therapist didn’t answer a relatively easy question from an inquisitive patient.

Now for the most ridiculous comment I have ever had charged against me: I was “trying to undermine the publicity article on National Physiotherapy Week.” First of all, I have never heard of National Physiotherapy Week. Secondly, even if I had, I certainly wouldn’t know when it was. (I don’t even know when Father’s Day is.)

You and your associates can be assured that I was not staying awake at night conspiring to ruin the biggest week of your year. Here is a little proof that I am telling the truth. I normally write my columns one month ahead of schedule (this one is an exception.) The article on ultrasound was written at the beginning of February, and when I submitted it to The Liberal, it had a date on it of March 4. That means it was supposed to appear in the paper on March 4; well it didn’t.

The paper ran a few other columns of mine for the next few weeks and then on March 18, my article appeared – right in the middle of National Physiotherapy Week, and directly opposite a very good article on physiotherapists.

I presume the people at The Liberal thought it would be a good idea to run the two articles together, seeing as they were related. I certainly didn’t have anything to do with the idea and I had absolutely no knowledge that it was to be done. So if your criticism is to be valid, it must be aimed at the editors, certainly not little old me.

Finally, I was said to have very bad taste when I used the words “average dumb hockey player.” This I apologize for. The average hockey player is not dumb. I have been playing hockey for 25 years, and I definitely remember a few bright players. They were the ones who gave it up to take up soccer or any other safe, warm sport.

I hope I have responded satisfactorily to your letter, and I hope you understand that I had no intention of criticizing your very important profession, but next time please think through the facts before being upset at what people write about your profession. If I showed the same degree of paranoia I would have given up a long time ago.

 

Allan Horowitz, D.C., is a chiropractor and writes this public service column. He will attempt to answer readers’ questions on a variety of topics, including headaches, back pain, nutrition, sports injuries and preventive medicine.