Position Paper # 8 Diagnosis

The issue of diagnosis is without doubt the defining issue of Objective Straight Chiropractic. It is the historical factor that brought the modern straight chiropractic movement into existence. Consequently, it is probably the most divisive issue separating objective straight chiropractic from every other approach to the practice of chiropractic. It is important to understand that objective straight chiropractic does not relate to therapeutics in ANY way. That is, the treatment, the cure, or the cause of disease has nothing whatsoever to do with this unique approach to the practice of straight chiropractic. Objective straight chiropractors do not treat all or any disease. It is important to understand this fact. Detractors of non-therapeutic objective chiropractic have falsely maintained that we do not diagnose because we claim that chiropractic is
a cure for all disease and consequently there is no need to differentiate the disease, which is the purpose of diagnosis. Objective straight chiropractic does not relate to disease. Its objective is to enable the forces of the innate intelligence of the body to be expressed more fully over the nerve system by correcting vertebral subluxation. That procedure is performed on all people regardless of the presence or absence of any medical condition or disease. That approach is logical and understandable. Every person needs a good nerve supply to maximally enjoy life, regardless of their health. Chiropractic adjustments improve the function of the nerve system. Every approach to the practice of chiropractic that in any way relates to medical conditions or their cause must perform diagnostic procedures for the safety of the patient and the protection of the chiropractor. If you do not relate to medical conditions those procedures are not necessary. There is no responsibility on the part of the chiropractor to diagnose. However there is an obligation on the part of the objective straight chiropractor to explain his or her unique approach to chiropractic and its objective. The individual seeking care should understand the non-therapeutic approach and how it can impact their life and health. They should also understand that if they want a diagnosis or a treatment for a medical condition they need to go elsewhere. This explanation is a standard and necessary part of the objective straight chiropractor’s orientation of a new person entering the practice.
The term used to describe the procedure of coming to an objective straight chiropractic conclusion is referred to as an analysis. It relates to one condition only, the vertebral subluxation. It does not differentiate numerous conditions or single out one medical condition from another which is the objective of a diagnosis. See also Terminology (Position Paper Number Four) When in the course of a chiropractic examination of the spine, whether by radiological examination, palpation, or another procedure designed to locate vertebral subluxation, the objective straight chiropractor finds something unusual, he or she has an obligation to inform the practice member of that unusual finding. The chiropractor does not diagnose it (i.e., he does not give it a medical name). He just informs the individual that it is something unusual and that it is not within his field of expertise to determine what it is or whether it needs treatment. Since any unusual finding would likely be of a medical nature, he needs to see a physician or an alternative to medicine. The objective straight chiropractor does not determine the need for a specialist inasmuch as that would necessitate some level of diagnosis. Diagnosis is a technical procedure performed by a trained professional. That professional is not a straight chiropractor. On the chance that an individual would come into the chiropractor office displaying the symptoms of a medical emergency, the chiropractor should use the same first-aid knowledge that the average person would use and refer that person to an emergency care facility.It should be noted that mixers and traditional straights who care for people for medical conditions or who present with symptoms are in fact making a diagnosis of sorts. They are by word or by their silence telling the person that they have determined that the condition they have is amenable to chiropractic care. These approaches carry with them certain legal and moral ramifications. An individual entering an objective straight chiropractic office must understand clearly that the chiropractor is not treating him for a condition. Omission of this fact will invariably be misinterpreted by the person as an indication the chiropractor is addressing their condition or symptoms.