GSCS statement on the new scope of practice legislation

Despite substantial opposition from over 20 agencies and groups including the Garden State Chiropractic Society (GSCS)and the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Associations (FSCO), exiting Governor Jon Corzine signed new Chiropractic Scope of Practice legislation into law hours before leaving office. The bill creates a broad expansion of the chiropractic scope of practice and allows New Jersey chiropractors to include nutritional counseling and selling of supplements for the first time. It also requires 30 hours of biannual continuing education credits, 2 of which must be in nutrition regardless of whether the practitioner is or intends to include nutrition in practice. To practice nutrition, a chiropractor must first complete 45 hours of education in nutrition as well as the annual 2 hour education requirement.

Interim GSCS President Dr. Gregory Stetzel, said of the new law, “The GSCS opposed the passing of this new law because we believe that it goes too far in granting the chiropractor full body access in diagnosis and treatment with no requirement of nexus to the spine. We view this broadening of the scope to be detrimental to the safe and effective practice of chiropractic and see it's passing as a watering down of the chiropractic principles in practice for the profession as a whole. And, while the new law does not require that our members expand our practices to meet the allowances of the law, it will impose liabilities that we believe are unnecessary and damaging to the image of our profession and our practitioners.”