Chiropractic Injury Lawyer Blog

The fact that neck manipulation can cause strokes among chiropractic patients is not commonly known. Chiropractors would like to keep it that way. However, a study conducted by the Stanford Stroke Center in 1992 sought to answer how common strokes caused by neck manipulation are.

The Stanford study focused on 486 doctors associated with the American Academy of Neurology in California. 177 of the 486 neurologists polled claimed they had treated patients that had suffered a stroke after receiving neck manipulations from a chiropractor. As you can see, strokes associated with neck manipulation are more common than you might believe.

Some chiropractors claim patients can be tested to determine if they are at risk for a stroke caused manipulation. For example, the chiropractor may hold the patient’s neck and head in a variety of positions. If the patient becomes dizzy he is assumed to be more likely to suffer a stroke. Chiropractors may also do the same procedure but use a stethoscope to listen for a signs of trouble. However, these tests are not reliable and there is no effective way to predict whether someone is prone to have a stroke.

For more information on the Stanford study and other issues discussed in this blog post please visit the following website: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chirostroke.html. If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke after being treated by a chiropractor, please call Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC at 1-866-587-0002, or email Jasper.

In an attempt to dispute what real doctors across the land are saying about the real risks of stroke associated with chiropractic manipulations, the World Chiropractic Alliance has issued a statement trying to assure people that the risk is too small to be significant. http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/positions/stroke.htm

In my opinion, if the chiropractors have ANY evidence that they are doing something that is causing people to have strokes, then they need to at least warn people of the risk before they do it. Otherwise, they are recklessly disclosing very relevant information necessary to obtain the informed consent of their patients.

For more information about the rights of those who are injured by the negligence of a chiropractor, contact http://www.kentuckyinjurylaw.com/

According to the World Chiropractic Alliances' web site, the following articulates its members' philosophy:

We promote chiropractic as a drug-free, subluxation-based health care approach providing lifetime, family wellness care. It should be available to all people, from infancy to old age, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. We work constantly and vigorously to ensure that chiropractic does not deteriorate into a medical therapy or incorporate drugs, surgery or other medical techniques.

Really? They think of themselves as essentially a primary care physician and/or a pediatrician? They think chiropractic treatment is appropriate without regard to whether a person has symptoms indicating a problem? Does this statement mean they think it can be appropriate to "adjust" an infant's neck?

These are some things to consider when choosing which health care professionals to treat with. It is my plan and goal to share more insight into Chiropractic and its philosophies and beliefs on this blog.

For more information on this subject and the rights of those injured or killed by another's careless and reckless activity, contact chiropractic injury attorney Will Nefzger by clicking on this link: e-mail Will. You can also find out more information about me and my firm by clicking on the Website link at the top of this page and going to my bio page.

Criminal charges against a South Australia chiropractor, Mario Forte, has been dropped by the court without public explanation. We previously wrote about the case here. Forte's patient, James Halloran, died while under his care from apparent hear attack. Halloran had presented to Forte's office in December of 2006 complaining of a stiff neck and dizziness, both considered to be warning signs for heart attacks. Rather than sending Halloran to the hospital, Forte, who also happens to be blind, continued with the appointment. During the session, Halloran began to shake violently. According to an inquest performed into Halloran's death, Forte did not call an ambulance immediately because he thought Halloran was merely having a seizure. Paramedics finally arrived, but too late to save Halloran who had suffered massive brain damage due to a lack of oxygen to his brain. He died two days later after he was taken off of life support.

Authorities subsequently charged Forte for the death. For reasons that were not made public by the Court, the criminal charges against Forte for Halloran's death have recently been dropped. Autopsy efforts continue to determine the cause of Halloran's fatal heart attack while under Forte's care.

If you would like more information about the harm chiropractors can cause, or can fail to prevent, please contact the attorneys at Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC.

For over a year and a half now, British science writer Simon Singh has been involved in a lawsuit against him brought by the British Chiropractic Association (“BCA”). The lawsuit claims that Singh has Libeled the BCA when he published an article in the Guardian criticizing the BCA for supporting members who claim that chiropractic treatments, which involve manipulation of the spine, can treat children’s colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma, and prolonged crying. In Singh’s article, he wrote about British chiropractors claiming that they could treat children’s colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma, and prolonged crying, with spinal manipulations. Singh pointed to the fact that there was no evidence to support such claims and even called them “bogus.” Singh went on to criticize the BCA for supporting chiropractors who made such claims. As a result of Singh’s criticism of the BCA’s support of members who made such unsubstantiated, and Singh put it, “Bogus,” claims of helping to treat children’s problems like colic through spinal manipulation, the BCA sued him for Libel.

In the United States, such criticism of medical procedures is legally acceptable, and considered by many in the field of science to be beneficial to examining the medical field. However, British laws regarding Slander and Libel differ from those in the United States, and are considered by some to be too rigid and stifle free speech. In May of this year, a British lower court found that Singh’s comments about the BCA carried the legal equivalent of implying that the BCA was being deliberately dishonest. Singh appealed and has won a ruling that found the lower court’s conclusions and interpretations were erroneous. Singh’s legal battles with the BCA continue to date. This appears to be an industries’ attempt to punish Singh for publishing opinions which negatively effect the Chiropractic industry.

There is an excellent article by Dr. Steven Barrett that discusses the cause and effect of chiropractic manipulations and severance of the vertebral artery --thus leading to stroke. Dr. Barrett's article "Chiropractic's Dirty Secret: Neck Manipulation and Strokes" is can be found here.

In sum, Dr. Barrett discusses that "stroke from chiropractic neck manipulation occurs when an artery to the brain ruptures or becomes blocked by a clot as a result of being stretched. The injury often results from extreme rotation in which the practitioner's hands are placed on the patient's head in order to rotate the cervical spine by rotating the head."

Dr. Barrett correctly notes that, "Chiropractors would like you to believe that the incidence of stroke following neck manipulation is extremely small." But it really happens quite frequently.

Dr. Barrett notes that, "In 1992, researchers at the Stanford Stroke Center asked 486 California members of the American Academy of Neurology how many patients they had seen during the previous two years who had suffered a stroke within 24 hours of neck manipulation by a chiropractor. The survey was sponsored by the American Heart Association. A total of 177 neurologists reported treating 56 such patients, all of whom were between the ages of 21 and 60. One patient had died, and 48 were left with permanent neurologic deficits such as slurred speech, inability to arrange words properly, and vertigo (dizziness). The usual cause of the strokes was thought to be a tear between the inner and outer walls of the vertebral arteries, which caused the arterial walls to balloon and block the flow of blood to the brain. Three of the strokes involved tears of the carotid arteries [3]. In 1991, according to circulation figures from Dynamic Chiropractic, California had about 19% of the chiropractors practicing in the United States, which suggests that about 147 cases of stroke each year were seen by neurologists nationwide. Of course, additional cases could have been seen by other doctors who did not respond to the survey."

For more information about the rights of those who have suffered a stroke within a short time after visiting a chiropractor, contact Larry Jones. or visit http://www.kentuckyinjurylaw.com/

A woman and her husband have filed a class action lawsuit in Canada against her chiropractor, the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors, and the Alberta Ministry of Health. The lawsuit hopes to bring attention to the dangers of chiropractic neck manipulation.

The lawsuit was filed after the woman, Sandra Nette, became paralyzed after treating with her chiropractor in 2007. At the visit, Sandra’s chiropractor manipulated her neck and tore her vertebral arteries. On the way home from the visit, Sandra began feeling dizzy and went to the hospital. Just one hour later Sandra was paralyzed and unable to swallow, speak, or breath on her own. Through physical therapy and rehabilitation, Sandra has regained slight movement in one arm and is able to communicate with a touch pad.

Sandra was never warned that neck adjustments could cause a stroke. She and her husband have filed a class action lawsuit in the hopes of bringing about changes in how chiropractors are regulated in Canada. They also hope by spreading the word about the potential dangers of neck manipulation, they will prevent others from suffering a similar tragedy.

While Canadian and U.S. regulations are different, the risks associated with chiropractic treatment is the same. If you would like to speak with an experienced attorney about a chiropractic injury or the legal rights of the injured in the United States, please call Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC at 1-866-587-0002, or email Jasper.