Is Chiropractic a Profession or a Modality
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Is Chiropractic a Profession or a ModalityWilliam E. Morgan, D.C.
Is chiropractic a single modality: the adjustment? Or
is it a profession that uses adjustments and other skill sets to
care for patients? The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
has clearly defined their view of chiropractic*
as being a multifaceted profession, not simply a singular
treatment modality that is broadly applied. The answer to
this rhetorical question (Is chiropractic a profession or a
modality?) has clearly been answered. The real question to ask
is: Do chiropractors have a clear understanding of what society
expects from its professionals?
After assessing literature on professionalism and public
trust, I am convinced that acquiring a professional degree does
not make one a professional any more than being born a nobleman
makes one noble in character. It is society that
grants the status of being a professional, not colleges or
licensing boards. Here is a synopsis of the traits that society
expects from those in the professions?
Hallmarks of a
Profession
1.
Rigorous intellectualism: A profession
engages in scholarly activity and research. Professions
pursue evidence, not dogma or sacredly held tenets.
2.
Ownership of particular knowledge and skills
(which certainly can be the chiropractic adjustment)
3.
An arduous and lengthy education process and
highly selective licensing procedures.
4.
Professionals earn a prosperous livelihood from
their expertise, but they value their societal contribution over
material gain.
5.
Professionals are held to higher standards of
ethics than the rest of society.
6.
Professional organizations police their own
ranks and discipline unscrupulous behavior.
In contrast, technicians are limited in
their view of problems and solutions, have limited intellectual
rigor, and less ethical esteem by society.
They may have only one or two interventions at their
disposal and may try to encompass more than they should with
those interventions. Consequently other professions consider
technicians incompetent case managers and will insist on
managing any cases referred to the technician.
If chiropractors are limited to being a single modality,
other professions will be very specific and limited in the types
of cases that they refer to chiropractors.
Chiropractors enter into this profession voluntarily and should
be prepared to live up to the arduous standards imposed on all
professions. We are not technicians. If we were to limit
ourselves to one treatment option, our patients would be denied
these other evidence-based interventions, and we would be
surrendering our professional status to one of a single-minded
technician. We should embrace our proficiency in manual
adjusting along with broad-based integration of diagnostics and
other drug-free treatment options, and collegial integration
with other healthcare professions.
|
Summation Points |
| -Professionalism is not
self-invested, but is conveyed by society. |
| -Technicians look at one
small piece of complex systems and may be unable to see
the big picture. |
| -Being a Professional is
rigorous and requires ongoing work and dedication. |
| -Technician or monomodal
practitioners can expect to be managed by others
(referring physicians, agencies, or insurance
companies). |
|
