13 March 2007

 

Tedd Koren, DC

Doctor of Chiropractic

P.O. Box 665

Gwynedd Valley, PA

19437 USA

 

Dear Dr. Koren:

 

Re: Germany – Proposed June Seminar

The World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) has learned of your proposed technique seminar on June 2-3, 2007 in Berlin, Germany from the German Chiropractors’ Association (GCA).  The GCA is the national member association of both the WFC and the European Chiropractors’ Union (ECU) for Germany, and represents duly qualified chiropractors in that country.

As you will by now know Germany is one of those countries in Europe which has yet to pass legislation to recognize and regulate the practice of chiropractic.  Our colleagues in the GCA are fighting to achieve that goal, in the difficult environment where many lay practitioners and medical doctors are claiming to provide chiropractic services.

The GCA advises that your seminar has been organized in partnership with the Berlin School of Chiropractic (the Berlin School) and that your proposed students will therefore be lay practitioners or heilpraktikers, not doctors of chiropractic or graduates of accredited schools.  The WFC is not sure whether or not you are aware that the Berlin School has been opened by lay practitioners who are engaged in the commercial exploitation of chiropractic education and have made no effort to cooperate with the GCA or apply for accreditation through the European Council on Chiropractic Education

The WFC asks that, now that you are aware of the situation, you cancel the proposed seminar and advise the Berlin School that you are not prepared to lecture on chiropractic technique to persons who are not duly qualified chiropractors.

 

 

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Tedd Koren, DC

 

In doing this you will be following the example of other North American chiropractic lecturers in recent years, most recently Dr. Jeanne Ohm and her colleagues at the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

If you were to proceed with this seminar, this will be in breach of WFC policies which are posted at www.wfc.org including the following policy passed in 1991 entitled Seminars for Non-Chiropractors in Another Country:

“WHEREAS chiropractors from one country presenting seminars or other educational programs on chiropractic to non-chiropractors in other countries are prejudicing the continued recognition and acceptance of chiropractic in those countries;

AND WHEREAS the member associations of the World Federation of Chiropractic are strongly opposed to such seminars or other educational programs;

NOW THEREFORE IT IS RESOLVED by the World Federation of Chiropractic that member associations should take all steps within their powers to prevent their members and all other chiropractors in their respective countries from engaging in such seminars or other educational programs and that member associations shall notify the World Federation of Chiropractic of any such activity to enable appropriate action to be taken.”

I am certain you are motivated by a desire to see more people being able to access quality chiropractic care. Unfortunately this is a situation where your efforts no matter how well intentioned can and will serve to undermine the profession in Germany. If you persist with this seminar it sends a message that a given technique approach is more important than the best interests of the profession. I know that is not your viewpoint but nonetheless that will be the conclusion drawn. Neither you nor the profession in Germany wants such an outcome. To take it to its fullest there are those who would argue that your seminar offering will be a breach of the chiropractic oath you took upon graduation and a betrayal of our German colleagues and the profession.

On behalf of the WFC and the profession, I ask you to reply with confirmation that the seminar is cancelled.  Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me or Mr. David Chapman-Smith, WFC Secretary-General.

Yours truly,

 

 

Gerard Clum, DC