For many years now, New Jersey has been a model for the
chiropractic profession of how the two philosophical camps could
peacefully coexist in an environment of tolerance and
non-interference. However, one of the groups, represented by the
newly-formed Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC), is
trying to change that.
The Garden State Chiropractic Society (GSCS) has been the sole
organization representing the non-therapeutic straight chiropractic
camp since the early 1970’s. Until recently, the therapeutic mixing
chiropractic camp consisted of a number of small regional groups and
two overarching statewide groups. These groups came together in 2004
under the single banner of the ANJC.
The ANJC claims to represent all chiropractic viewpoints equally.
Its releases and publications regularly and falsely position the
organization as bringing about unity of New Jersey chiropractors.
Its leadership has reached out to other states offering similar
unification facilitation services using its supposed “success” in
New Jersey as a testimonial. The truth is, there is not unity in New
Jersey and, in fact, chiropractic civil war now looms on the horizon
as the first shots are fired. The ANJC has unilaterally drafted a
proposal to alter the NJ scope of practice by exclusively favoring
therapeutic mixing chiropractic, and encroaching upon the practices
of other healthcare professions.
New Jersey is a state where chiropractors from both camps could
practice according to their principles and methodologies within the
law. We now seem to be facing a costly battle for both sides.
Legislators had grown tired of chiropractors fighting amongst
themselves, and the ANJC is apparently choosing that approach again.
The GSCS will oppose any legislation which favors one camp’s
existence at the demise of the other.
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