Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization
Our Organization: Chiropractic Stroke Awareness
Chiropractors who are questioned about the concurrence of upper cervical manipulation and stroke often point to research studies that seem to minimize the risk.
Their studies claim show that strokes induced by chiropractic treatment occur only in 1 in 5.8 million patients. Other studies claim this happens to 1 in 300,000 patients. It appears that there is no comprehensive study that offers conclusive evidence of how often stoke occurs. We believe that even one stroke is 1 too many and therefore these claims fail to mitigate the harm that's already been caused.
With increasing numbers of chiropractors treating more consumers seeking alternative or wellness care, the number of individuals who suffer strokes will rise.
Are These Acceptable Odds?
We believe the question to be asked is whether the benefit is worth the risk. No matter how the data are interpreted, whether these odds are small or large, everyone we know who has suffered a stroke induced by upper cervical manipulation resoundingly agrees that the procedure should be banned. Their belief is even more compelling when considering the alternative treatments that bear no such risk.
Although anecdotal accounts suggest that chiropractic may provide some relief for some consumers, many people find upper cervical manipulation frightening. Many question its effectiveness, stating that frequent repeat treatments are necessary as it only provides temporary relief. This argues strongly against the actual benefit of upper cervical manipulations.
The fundamental belief of chiropractic — the existence of subluxations — has never been proven in x-rays, CT scans, MRIs or even through autopsies. No scientific basis exists. We believe strongly that the minimal benefit some might experience from upper cervical manipulations is vastly outweighed by the potential catastrophic harm it might cause. We wonder why most chiropractors are unwilling to cease this scientifically unsound and medically treacherous procedure or even inform their patients of the risk.
Informed consent is mandatory for conventional medical care, but not for chiropractic. This leads chiropractic patients to believe that there are no risks involved. Most survivors of stroke within 30 days of upper cervical manipulation are never told of the risk of stroke, or perhaps they were warned, but the warning given was in small print and not discussed openly or in detail. Thus, relatively young and healthy people are suffering severe strokes without ever knowing they were caused by chiropractic neck manipulations.
Contact the Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization if you would like to further investigate this topic with us.
We are a not for profit organization dedicated to understanding, evaluating and researching the risks of stroke induced by chiropractic upper cervical manipulation and providing a supportive environment for those who have suffered strokes, or the families of the victims who did not survive.
Today, more and more people are seeking alternative care for health maintenance, as well as treatment for chronic maladies such as headaches, back pain, etc. We believe it is imperative that "holistic" or alternative care providers should be held to the same standards as conventional medical providers. Our mission is three-fold:
- To raise awareness and provide information and assistance to potential victims of stroke after upper cervical manipulation;
- To provide support to those who have already had a stroke shortly after receiving chiropractic treatment; and
- To obtain primary data sufficient enough to enlist an independent scientific research organization to analyze this data from a purely objective viewpoint
Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization welcomes the participation of chiropractors who are conscientious, well-trained and share our goal to determine the relationship and incidence of strokes after upper neck manipulation. We welcome others with interest in the quest for definitive answers: stroke victims, families of stroke victims, chiropractic patients, physicians, lawyers, and other health care providers and researchers, to name a few.
Fighting for Safety
Ultimately, we hope for a day when no one will endure the fate of victims such as Christa and Kelley — women who had no risk factors for stroke, underwent upper cervical manipulation as a health maintenance treatment and subsequently experienced debilitating strokes which permanently and negatively impacted their lives, or the fate of Michael and his young children, whose wife and mother died shortly after a cousin, who is a chiropractor, manipulated her neck at a family gathering.
Contact the Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization to learn how to join us or share any information you may have to contribute to our efforts.
The full citation for the case is Wilk v. American Medical Association, 671 F. Supp. 1465 (N.D. Ill., 1987).
