Dear TAC: I know that your magazine does not endorse the conclusions of your authors, but I was deeply offended as a chiropractic physician and as a human being to see an article under the "Marketing" section on page 24 of Volume 22, Issue 1, 2000, by Tedd Koren, DC, titled "How to Freak People Out and Turn Them Into Patients." At first, I thought I was reading some kind of a script for a con-artist visiting mobile home owners in Florida and scaring them into believing that their windows would turn them into dust within the next year if they weren't replaced by "brand X" super-duper high energy windows. I can't believe that your magazine would allow this kind of a scam to be printed; and, what makes it even worse, is the following: "At this moment of concern and vulnerability, you might quietly suggest a good tailor who can alter their clothes as they continue to shrink." If ever there was a blatant attempt to scare an individual into supposedly necessary treatment or chiropractic care of whatever kind, this is it. At every graduation, I talk to our graduates about the responsibility they have as ethical practitioners because of the vulnerability of their patients, and here we have a supposedly high profiled D.C. telling all chiropractors to use a clear scam in an attempt to take advantage of that vulnerability. This is exactly the kind of trash that will appear on some anti-chiropractic web site and damage all chiropractors. If this is the kind of material that Tedd Koren routinely publishes, then I wish the FTC the best of luck in prosecuting him. He ought to be ashamed of himself. James F. Winterstein, D.C. President of The National College of Chiropractic Dear Editor, You have made a significant editorial error with the publication of Tedd Koran's article in the most recent issue of TAC. Either the article is a satirical piece that should be identified as such, or the article is promoting grotesquely unethical marketing practices. If this is a satire, you should have CLEARLY stated so at the end of the article. If the article is serious, you should have never published it. In no realm of the imagination are patient deception and clinically irrelevant findings ethical, fair, or reasonable means to increase a chiropractic practice. This is the kind of garbage that gives a bad name to our profession. A prospective patient or an M.D. reading this article could only believe that chiropractors are not trustworthy or serious health professionals. You must make a disclaimer in your next issue with an explanation of your editorial policies. Looking forward to your prompt reply. Bradford Eichwald Oak Park, IL NCC(December 2001) Editor's Note: Our disclaimer appears in every issue of TAC at the bottom oj the Contents page. Dr. Koren is a member of our Editorial Board, and enjoys a very ethical reputation among many within the chiropractic profession. Please read on, for Dr. Karen's response, and an unsolicited testimonial we received from a practicing D. C. Dr. Koren Responds... I am glad that Mr. Eichwald shares with me the seriousness of vertebral subluxation damage and the importance of ethically educating patients. I am shocked, however, that he writes I promote "patient deception and clinically irrelevant findings" by suggesting doctors measure patients' heights and then inform them that their height loss (if they have it) may be one sign of sub-luxation degeneration. "Patient deception"? Where is the deception? "Clinically irrelevant findings"? Since when is loss of height irrelevant? Many practicing doctors of chiropractic have thanked me for this suggestion, as they have found it VERY helpful in connecting with patients and making the VSC REAL. Doctors in the trenches, such as myself, who work hard at educating patients, are grateful for a simple, effective way of reaching peo-pie. Although I wrote the piece in a humorous vein, the information is relevant and serious. I fail to see Mr. Eichwald's point. The height test I was recommending is an objective clinical finding. If Mr. Eichwald would like to see one of my "serious" papers, I suggest checking out the first paper on chiropractic written by a chiropractor in a major medical journal. Science and Medicine (Oct/Nov 1999). That paper was for MDs and Ph.Ds and has been received with high acclaim. (They might even like it at National.) Now, to Dr. Winterstein, President of National College. He feels that my tongue-in-cheek article is promoting a scam. I think he should review his medical records and find out if his funny bone was somehow removed during his last examination. I am not surprised that he is unfamiliar with my extensive writings-after all, they are subluxation-based. Tedd Koren, DC Gwynedd Valley, PA ■ ...and he DOES have his supporters! To whit... Dear TAC: I am responding to the recently published article written by Dr. Tedd Koren entitled, "How to Freak People Out and Turn Them Into Patients." I have had the distinct pleasure of hearing Dr. Ko-ren speak, and reading this article made me laugh, because 1 could just imagine him delivering this information live. Dr. Koren has a great sense of humor which is ever so apparent in this article. I have used this method of measuring patients, and potential patients, with very positive results. My hope is that D.C.s reading this article will take seriously the suggestion of measuring patients. It does assist patients in understanding the sub-luxation complex better and in understanding the importance of chiropractic care to their overall health. Thank you for publishing this article. Donnalee Gillen, D.C. Marlboro Township, New Jersey There Are Just Too Many Healthcare Practitioners-PERIOD! In response to Dr. Marshall's letter in Vol.22 #4 Dear TAC: I have to agree with Dr. Marshall (Vol. 22, #1) that it is criminal that the chiropractic colleges continue to turn out DCs by the truckload with outrageous loan burden on their backs. As a 1992 Palmer grad, I am prepared to tell the new grads that, with the current healthcare insurance crisis and the hesitancy of patients to self-pay, they will have tremendous difficulty meeting their loan payments. And, contrary to what your philosophy instructor told you at school, there are not patients just waiting for you to open your new office doors. The ultra-successful, high S Doc's of the 1980's were insurance mills that are not viable in the current healthcare environment. And it takes a huge amount of $45.00 cash patients these days to meet rent, power bill, malpractice insurance, continuing education, salaries, equipment, etc., etc. But don't feel bad; the MD's and PT's are in the same boat. Two years ago, the Pew Report was released that said that best path was to completely close 40% of the medical schools in the country or there would be an extreme over abundance of MD's. Have any medical schools closed? No! So everyone wants to ignore the problem of too many practitioners (of all kinds), too little insurance coverage (which all practitioners learned, wrongly, to rely on), and few patients willing to self-pay, after having several hundreds of dollars of their wages withheld in order to pay for an ineffective insurance policy. Healthcare, in general, is going to get worse, much worse! I love what I do; my favorite line is, "I would adjust the world, if they would line up!" National healthcare is coming; it's only a question of time. And, just like the stupid Medicare program, chiropractors will be left out in the cold. I promise you! So, once again, to the new grads I say, "Hang on. It's only going to get worse!" To the chiropractic colleges: "Quit filling the kids with 'pie in the sky' ideas and 'absolute success through philosophy'. It's not that easy out here in the real world" To my fellow chiropractors: "I don't really think we can change the current path we are on." Dr. Bill Butson Lenoir, NC Continued on page 8... Patient Expresses Gratitude to His D.C. To the Editor, Thirty years ago, at age nineteen; I fell asleep at the wheel and somehow managed to break through the guardrail and plunge off an overpass. One hundred-and-twenty feet down and six months later, I was released from the hospital in a body cast with three completely crushed vertebrae, and what would become years of non-stop, unbelievable pain. My very caring Family Practice MD brought in surgeon after surgeon, enabling me to have the infonned ability to choose appropriate action by the expert of my choice. Of course, I had little trouble trusting his stern advice to NEVER consider allowing anyone to attempt a spinal adjustment, due to the severity of damage and the risk there-of. Seventeen years later, I met Michael Wilson, DC, while working on a local civic project. Mike noticed my immobility and obvious pain, and we talked about my injuries. He invited me to his clinic, reviewed x-rays, spent hours questioning and examining me, and told me that, in his opinion, the surgeon's fifteen-year-old advice was, at the time, possibly well-founded. He cautiously informed me that the damage was greater than he had imagined, but that he saw no reason for me to live with so much pain. Within a matter of weeks, I was absolutely amazed! With Mike's help, I learned how to make the combination of exercise, diet, and proper sleeping technique part of his treatment and, since that time, have lived virtually pain free. Some people in Yakima know Dr. Mike Wilson as a State Champion Wrestler who went on to help countless coaches and athletes from miles around to train and compete safely. Others, undoubtedly, know Mike as a devoted civic activist who spends thousands of hours reassuring that our wonderful town is a fine place to live. I know Mike as a member of your proud profession who, with proper and thorough training, has literally changed my life. Sincerely, ... .-.-. .'. David Fitting . '",.•■ Yakima, WA - " • P.S.: In my 'surfs and clicks' I came across your online edition. Kudos... very interesting, even to a patient. Please feel free to do with this letter as you see fit, I have felt a need to [tell this story] for a long while Fibromyalgia Article Restores DCs "Noble" Intentions Dear TAC I wish to thank you for publishing my article, "Fibromyalgia: A Den of Demons," in [Vol. 21, #5, 1999]. Besides being inundated with phone calls, we saw some things happen that...were [simply] "noble". Doctors who did not feel able to implement the methods that we described gave the article to their patients. Doctors started treatment on their own spouses, parents, and extended families. Some, on themselves. What we witnessed, then, in this day of machine-like practice-builders was the-nobility and caring that prevailed when I entered the profession some 52 years ago. God bless you! Our entire treatment is presented at www.Fibromyalgiacure.com. Those who go there will save a lot of our mutual time by doing this. My heartfelt appreciation! Brice E. Vickeiy, D. C. SuperNutrient Corporation Continued on page 40... THE FORUM ...from page 8 Is it, "the level of compassion" you hold for your patients that makes the difference? Dear TAC: This letter is in response to Karl Parker's quote about compassion (Vol. 22, #1). Compassion, if it is developed in an individual, does not occur in a vacuum. The spiritual quality of compassion, if it is truly present, with its roots in the heart of the doctor, will permeate the entire being. The order of influence is: thought effecting words, effecting action. A compassionate person's actions are not brutal or harsh, but gentle, harmless, and harmonious with universal truth. The general public's image of chiropractic, whether they have tried chiropractic or not, is one where the doctor moves vertebra quite forcefully. Most people feel this procedure is, at best, painful, and, at worst, potentially harmful. The image that the public has of chiropractic is the single most important reason that large percentages of people are afraid of chiropractic. A compassionate doctor, implying some degree of introspection and reflection, could not possibly adjust a patient brutally. The first rule on the spiritual path is harmlessness. The compassionate doctor must develop the virtues of gentleness, inner-directness, and reverence for the innate healing ability of the patient. All these tendencies have a great effect on the eventual type of adjusting a doctor does. A compassionate doctor's methods are not brutal, controlling, or manipulative; they would bring to mind images of kindness, effectiveness, and directing physical plane healing. Perhaps it could be said that compassion is the primary factor in determining whether a doctor has success and longevity in practice. But, certainly, compassion's impact is far-reaching and pervasive. If it becomes a cornerstone in our profession, which I pray it does, our words and actions as chiropractors "shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). Louise Nadeau, D. C. Dallas, TX.
