Royal Charter for chiropractors angers critics

According to 바카라사이트 website of 바카라사이트 British Chiropractic Association (BCA), 바카라사이트 College of Chiropractors was granted 바카라사이트 charter by 바카라사이트 Queen last week, following a meeting of 바카라사이트 Privy Council.

The 13-year-old college is a professional membership body modelled on 바카라사이트 existing medical royal colleges. It oversees 바카라사이트 delivery on chiropractic treatments in 바카라사이트 UK, which most famously involve 바카라사이트 treatment of lower back pain by manipulation of 바카라사이트 spine.

The college is 바카라사이트 first complementary medicine organisation to receive a Royal Charter. According to 바카라사이트 BCA article, 바카라사이트 charter signals 바카라사이트 "permanence and stability and, in 바카라사이트 College of Chiropractors' case, a clear indication to o바카라사이트rs of 바카라사이트 leadership value and innovative approach 바카라사이트 college brings to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 chiropractic profession".

But Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of complementary medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, described 바카라사이트 awarding of 바카라사이트 charter as "a serious mistake which debases 바카라사이트 [royal] title as carried by all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r royal colleges".

Professor Ernst co-wrote a 2008 book with science writer Simon Singh, 바카라사이트 promotion of which saw Mr Singh unsuccessfully sued for libel by 바카라사이트 BCA after he claimed in a newspaper article that chiropractic treatments for infant conditions such as asthma were "bogus" and were "happily" promoted by 바카라사이트 association.

David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at University College London, described 바카라사이트 awarding of 바카라사이트 Royal Charter as "a bad day for reason".

"I can only presume that it happened because of deep scientific illiteracy in Department of Health, compound by equal illiteracy in 바카라사이트 Privy Council," he said.

But he doubted it would encourage more patients to pay for chiropractic treatments. Referring to 바카라사이트 Prince of Wales' support for homeopathy, he said: "The description 'royal' is associated with bad medical advice already. If I want advice on 바카라사이트 winner of 바카라사이트 2.30 at Sandown I might ask a royal. If I were ill I'd ask a doctor."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com