Dr. Allan Horowitz, published newspaper article, The Liberal, Copyright June 20, 1989

To follow up the last few week’s columns which were dealing with the interprofessional relationships between medical doctors and chiropractors, I want to discuss a legal case which took place in the United States over the past few years.

Most of the factual information which will follow here was taken from an excellent publication known as ‘The chiropractic report.’ This newsletter keeps professionals from all over the world informed regarding current research findings and other activities which involve the chiropractic profession. (If anyone is interested in receiving this newsletter, they can write to P.0 Box 244, Station ‘S’, Toronto, Ont., M5M 4L7)

This case is known as the ‘Wilk case.’ It was an antitrust action brought by five chiropractors in the United States. They brought this action against several groups, including the American Medical Association, American College of Surgeons, American College of Radiologists, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Hospitals.

This action was brought by these chiropractors because they felt chiropractors were on the wrong end of a conspiracy which they felt was trying to do away with, or at least severely restrict their ability to practise chiropractic medicine.

In the United States it is illegal to seek a monopoly or enter into agreements with others which will unreasonably restrict the conduct of others’ business.

The chiropractors involved claimed that the organizations named in the suit had in fact pursued an illegal conspiracy designed to contain and destroy the chiropractic profession.

Many doctors were beginning to realize that chiropractors did serve a very valuable purpose, and these individual doctors began to associate with them more and more. The American Medical Association, it was claimed, began the conspiracy in 1963. It is also claimed that the A.M. A. suppressed research which was favorable to chiropractors, did their best to undermine chiropractic colleges and postgraduate education programs, and instituted ethical rulings which prevented cooperation between chiropractors and doctors in education, research, and practice, subverted a 1967 U.S. government inquiry into the merits of chiropractic, and also orchestrated a massive public relations campaign against chiropractors, claiming they were ‘non- scientific.’

This legal battle was first launched in 1976, in Chicago, the home of the A.M. A. The plaintiffs were Dr. Chester Wilk and four other chiropractors practicing in Illinois, Michigan, California, Colorado and Missouri.

The Wilk case first went to trial in 1980, and to appeal in 1983.

The plaintiffs claimed injury to reputation, and loss of income because on what they thought were illegal activities by these groups.

The trial went on for a long time, cost everyone involved a lot of money, was watched very closely by chiropractors and medical doctors everywhere, and one day might make a very interesting ‘movie of the week.’

For the results of this case you will have to stay tuned to this very spot next week.

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 and sport injuries.

Address your questions to Allan Horowitz, care of The Liberal, Box 390, Richmond Hill, L4C 4Y6.