AROUND THE CHIROPRACTIC
Vets Force Chiropractors in Guam to Stop Treating Animals
ISLAND OF GUAM, USA - Animal chiropractic services are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, but here in Guam, the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners is issuing a cease-and-desist order to a local chiropractor to stop advertising offers for the service on island.
The issue was brought before the board under board member Dr. Velma Harper, a veterinarian.
“There’s a question concerning, this is Dr. Harper’s agenda, concerning a chiropractor performing adjustment, chiropractic manipulation on animals,” Mamie Balajadia, board chair, said.
But according to Gregory Miller, a chiropractor, that service is not in the scope of a chiropractor’s work on the island. He provided the board background on the issue.
“They’re not supposed to do it unless we figure this out. I did talk to the Chiropractors Association, basically what’s going to happen, animal chiropractic is getting more and more popular. So, one of the chiropractors on Guam went off island and got what she called a certification in doing animal chiropractic,” Miller said.
He told the board that he advised that chiropractor that local veterinarians would probably oppose the service being offered by a chiropractor.
“So, my advice to the chiropractors is, if you really want to do it, then they would have to basically introduce a change to law so it can be defined with the law, and then they would have to battle it out with veterinarians. And that’s the main solution I would see. So, whether it happens or not depends on the political prowess of whoever’s involved,” Miller said.
Miller asserted that current Guam laws do not define animal chiropractic or whether it would be under veterinary medicine or chiropractic. The board did not identify the chiropractor offering the service or if the service is still being offered. However, Miller did note that advertisements could be found on the chiropractor’s social media pages.
The Guam Daily Post reviewed social media pages of local chiropractors and came across a social media post on the Facebook page of Amy Gates, a local chiropractor, who, based on her post, was conducting chiropractic services on animals in 2022.
In one social media post from June 2022 named, “Pet Day,” Gates stated, “Bring me your pets this Saturday! I have a few human slots too.”
In another post that same year, Gates posed with two dogs in separate pictures, reportedly after “their adjustments” were conducted.
Miller noted that while he has performed manipulations on animals in the past, he has not done so in present times.
“Prior, when I would adjust an animal was always on a referral from the veterinary doctor, which, I think, should still continue. Then what you’re doing is you’re getting the proper diagnosis down in the safer situation, and then you collaborate with the chiropractor. Like I sometimes, we go down to ... the clinic. ... Actually, it’s quite a long time ago. I haven’t done it (in) probably 25 years,” Miller said.
Harper’s concern surrounding the unidentified chiropractor providing such services focused on the legal and ethical considerations of chiropractors performing manipulations on animals.
“My issue is that this person is advertising on a website and other media platforms that she does at home chiropractic. That means she is going to establish a client-patient relationship with a pet owner without any veterinaiy oversight. Which, No. 1, that’s not their scope of practice, period. Even in the law right now, it’s not their scope of practice,” Harper said.
Harper suggested that the board send a cease-and-desist letter to the chiropractor, ordering her to stop advertising services for animal chiropractic manipulations. Miller agreed, noting that the “correct processes” need to be followed.
“Unless she would come in and cease and desist, I think a formal cease-and-desist is probably better. And I don’t know what her intentions are, but like I said, it would be up to the chiropractors that if they want this so bad that they would have to get involved in politics. And then, of course, the veterinary community would probably oppose it. ... Whatever happens is what stands. But right now, I think just some type of letter telling her to stop advertising that she does animal chiropractic, stop offering,” Miller said, noting the chiropractor may have stopped already.
The board voted to proceed, and that Miller would draft the cease-and-desist letter.
Miller additionally stressed that veterinarians and chiropractors be brought together to discuss the issue further and decide if changes to the law are warranted.
If so, “then they’re going to have to do the politics and change the law, which would not be that easy,” Miller said.
That, however, is a matter for further discussion at another board meeting or possibly a work session, the board concluded
Source: www.postguam. com
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