With last year’s Department of Education decision concerning the Straight Chiropractic Academic Standards Association (SCASA), there has been increased interest and discussion about the straight schools applying to the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) for accreditation. The straight schools have maintained that philosophical differences prevent them from applying to CCE. The CCE on the other hand continually maintains that philosophy is not an issue, that heir concern is only the quality of the school’s education, that the educational program is the criteria by which they judge all schools and would judge the straight colleges. Is it education or is it philosophy? Possibly, it is both philosophy to the straights and education to the CCE. The CCE time and time again has said they have no problem with philosophy. They are willing to accept all philosophies. Conversely, the straights claim to have no problem with the education program. They maintain that the straight schools already teach what the CCE schools teach so their graduates can pass the same state and national boards the CCE students take. Is it possible that the two groups can get together and if not why not? In analyzing the situation it appears that here is one major area where a philosophical/educational confrontation might occur with the straight schools and the CCE. That area is the practical experience of the straight student, the student clinic/health center.
Both sides would agree that the health center experience should reflect the educational program. It would be inadequate education to teach students adjusting techniques in class and then never given them the opportunity to practice on the public in a clinical setting. If a straight school attempted that, SCASA, CCE or any other accrediting agency could rightfully consider their educational program inadequate. However, that is exactly what the straight schools are doing with regard to certain procedures. They teach full body diagnosis, medical examinations and orthopedic/neurological tests in the classroom so that students can pass the boards but do not perform those procedures in the health center. It is a matter of principle (philosophy). They do not believe these procedures are consistent with straight chiropractic and they confuse the public as to the role of the straight chiropractor in the health care delivery system causing the consumer to think straight chiropractors diagnose and treat medical conditions. The straights believe these procedures are consistent with straight chiropractic and they confuse the public as to the role of the straight chiropractor in the health care delivery system causing the consumer to think straight chiropractors diagnose and treat medical conditions. The straights believe that is a dangerous way to practice. Straight chiropractic students understand those procedures are not straight chiropractic and that they are only being taught for the purpose of passing national and state boards. They will not confuse the general public by doing them in the health center especially when they are not relevant to the actual practice of straight chiropractic.
Before one becomes too critical of the straights remember that almost all the CCE schools drew the line somewhere on what they teach in the classroom and what they allow the student to do in a clinical setting. Different schools have different policies regarding the taking of blood, gynecological and obstetrical examination, proctologic exams, etc. The straight schools drew the line based upon a philosophy, the CCE schools based upon school policy or state law. Really what is the difference? School policy is merely a reflection of the school’s philosophy and state law is really a standard of care reflecting the member of the profession in that state’s philosophy of chiropractic.
If he role of the straight chiropractor is to diagnose and treat disease by hand then the education of the straight chiropractic student is inadequate. They simply do not receive the practical/clinical training to accomplish that objective and the CCE is very correct in saying it is an educational issue.
On the other hand, if the role of the straight chiropractor is to correct vertebral subluxations that are causing DIS-EASE in the body causing the nervous system to function less than it should and to make the patient aware of the fact that straight chiropractic is not a substitute or alternative to any medical or therapeutic procedure, then the education is more than adequate. That is the straight’s philosophical position.
The CCE has accepted the philosophy of some of its schools which say chiropractic is the correction of subluxation as the cause of disease. Whether you are treating disease or its cause you need to diagnose. But that is not what “non-CCE” straight chiropractic is all about. Straight chiropractic does not address disease or its cause in any manner and makes that point perfectly clear to the public. To perform tests associated with the diagnosis of disease would undermine that objective. It’s a matter of philosophy.
The clinical experience in straight chiropractic schools is really then the major point of contention. The straights can accept doing many things in their education program. There is nothing wrong with education, they are not against exposing the students to non-straight procedures as long as those procedures do not undermine the straight chiropractic education. But performing procedures on the public in a chiropractic setting, procedures which are clearly inconsistent with the straight philosophy is where the straight schools will want to draw the line. The question needs to be put point blank to the CCE. “Will you accept the fact that our students will not perform tests and procedures on the public which are inconsistent with our philosophy and will you not condemn our educational program because we choose not to do them?” The straight schools need that assurance form the CCE. v9n3