The practice of objective straight chiropractic is unique. It has a singular
objective, the correction of vertebral subluxation to enable the innate
intelligence of the body to more fully express itself. Because of that singular
objective the concept of referral as it is generally understood is not part of the
objective straight chiropractor’s practice. Some years back communities had
service stations. In addition to buying gasoline, car owners could have their oil
checked, the air pressure in their tires checked and their windshields cleaned.
Today we have “gas stations.” They have a singular objective to fill your tank
with gasoline. Drivers do not expect any other services to be provided.
Most health care practitioners treat diseases. To do that they examine a new
patient, gather the signs and symptoms, perhaps run a few tests to rule out
some things and then arrive at a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made, the
health care provider can then determine the best treatment for the particular
diagnosis. If he/she can provide that treatment, then the patient begins care.
However, in the event that the practitioner can not provide that treatment
he/she refers the patient to the appropriate physician/therapist. It is worth
noting the importance of the order of these events determine which disease
the patient has, then what the most effective treatment would be and then the
possible need for referral. The objective straight chiropractor has a single
objective, so he need only determine whether an individual has vertebral
subluxations to determine whether or not he needs the care of the
chiropractor. If the individual does not have subluxations, then he does not
need care at that time. The chiropractor is not responsible for determining
whether an individual needs some other type of care or not. That is for the
individual to decide when they understand the unique role of chiropractic.
Advice regarding other types of care should be obtained from an expert in
various medical conditions and treatments. That person is not an objective
straight chiropractor and further the objective straight chiropractor is not in a
position to know who that person is unless he makes some type of medical
judgement or diagnosis himself, and that is not part of the practice of
objective straight chiropractic.
The straight chiropractor clearly informs people that chiropractic is not a
substitute or an alternative to medical or therapeutic care for diagnosed or
suspected medical problems. People seeking care are encouraged to see a
medical physician if they indicate that they want to be treated for the
symptoms they are experiencing or if they would like a medical diagnosis to
determine the cause of their symptoms. This is as close to making a referral
as the objective straight chiropractor comes. The straight chiropractor never
refers to a specific provider or to a specific specialty.
Occasionally, people seeking chiropractic care in an objective straight
chiropractor’s office will express a desire to have a medical condition treated
with chiropractic adjustments usually because they have had a previous
experience with a non-objective straight chiropractor for the same or a similar
condition. The objective straight chiropractor will explain to the individual that
that type of chiropractic in not practiced in this office but that there are other
chiropractors in the community who may be willing to address his/her medical
condition. For patient safety and for risk management reasons objective
straight chiropractors never refer to a specific non-objective straight
chiropractor or to a medical provider. There are risks to utilizing chiropractic
care for medical conditions just as there are risks to all medical care,
including delay of proper care as well as risks related specifically to the
practitioner such as negligence and competence. The objective straight
chiropractor does not subject a person to risks outside his area of expertise
and so specific referrals are not given.
There are no inherent risks to objective straight chiropractic care. So an
objective straight chiropractor may refer an individual to another objective
straight chiropractor who may be able to meet that individual’s chiropractic
needs better because of location, fee system or technique. This is the only
true referral made by an objective straight chiropractor.
An objective straight chiropractor has a responsibility to inform a practice
member of unusual findings and to explain that person’s options. Further the
straight chiropractor is responsible to act appropriately in obvious emergency
situations. (See Diagnosis position paper)
