Dr. Jill Tomlinson, the Australian Medical Association’s Victorian president, has raised concerns about the safety of spinal manipulation in children, describing it as “manifestly unsafe”. She cited cases where patients suffered disc prolapses and strokes following chiropractic work. The Chiropractic Board of Australia had previously announced an interim ban on spinal manipulation of children under two, following public outrage over a video of a Melbourne chiropractor performing the procedure on a two-week-old baby. A follow-up review by Cochrane Australia found no clear evidence supporting spinal manipulation in children. The board recently released a statement allowing a range of care for children, including manual therapy and manipulation, if practitioners understand the differences in care needed for children.
The Chiropractic Board of Australia has stated that it will respond to concerns raised by the Victorian health minister regarding the safety of spinal manipulation in children once they receive his correspondence. University of Sydney health law expert Dr. Christopher Rudge noted that the federal government has the power to potentially change the national law governing chiropractors to ban spinal manipulation in children but it is unlikely due to the low-risk profile of the treatment. He suggested that the board should change its policy to ensure the safety and appropriateness of care provided to children by chiropractors. One senior chiropractor, speaking anonymously, expressed concerns about the lack of hands-on training chiropractors receive when treating babies and young children, stating that they may not be able to accurately assess what treatment is necessary.
Dr. Tomlinson plans to raise her concerns about the safety of spinal manipulation in children with Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian health minister. The Chiropractic Board of Australia had previously banned the spinal manipulation of children under two following public outcry over a video showing a chiropractor treating a newborn baby. While the board later released a statement allowing a range of care for children, including spinal manipulation, if practitioners understand the differences in care needed for children, concerns remain about the safety and necessity of this treatment in young patients. Dr. Rudge suggested that the board should update its policy to ensure safe and appropriate care based on the latest evidence and information.
The issue of spinal manipulation in children has sparked controversy and concern among medical professionals and experts in Australia. Dr. Tomlinson, representing the Australian Medical Association in Victoria, has voiced her opposition to the practice, citing cases of adverse effects such as disc prolapses and strokes following chiropractic work in children. The Chiropractic Board of Australia had previously banned spinal manipulation in children under two, but later revised its policy to allow a range of care for children if practitioners modify their care appropriately. University of Sydney health law expert Dr. Christopher Rudge suggested that the board should update its policy to ensure the safety and appropriateness of care provided to children by chiropractors.
The safety and necessity of spinal manipulation in children remain a contentious issue in Australia, with concerns raised about the lack of evidence supporting its benefits and the potential risks involved. The Chiropractic Board of Australia has faced criticism from medical professionals and experts for allowing spinal manipulation in children despite the lack of clear evidence supporting its effectiveness. One senior chiropractor raised concerns about the lack of hands-on training chiropractors receive in treating babies and young children, highlighting the importance of accurately assessing what treatment is necessary for young patients. Dr. Tomlinson plans to raise her concerns with Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian health minister to address the safety of spinal manipulation in children and advocate for stricter regulations to protect young patients.
