ANDRÉ-MARIE GONTHIER 2020-02-05 17:16:00
Respect for our differences
The G6 is a think-tank on contemporary professional challenges or issues in chiropractic. On behalf of the members of the G6, I hope that this will allow you to better understand what it is all about. We advocate unity in diversity. We want to promote more respect for the differences between us as chiropractors. We firmly believe that the future of our profession lies with the different factions or groups of chiropractors and how they behave with each other. Otherwise, and as many external observers of our profession believe, the chiropractic profession, as we know it, will implode, fragment, and even disappear – at least in its current form. It is possible that the G6 Proclamation-Declaration will rub some people (or organizations) the wrong way. But there comes a time when we must have the courage to say things as they are, in an honest and lucid manner. And yes, the situation is alarming. However, there is hope.
On our bilingual website, dialoguechiropratique. org, you will find all relevant information on the G6. We are a group of experienced chiropractors who care about the future of their profession and share a common mission: Put our voices and energy at the service of the profession and help make it more respectful of its origins – what chiropractic can bring to the health of our humanity. We also want to work towards establishing a greater degree of respect between the different parties or groups that compose our profession, as well as a more harmonious cohabitation. To do this, we want to create opportunities for constructive and structuring dialogue between all of us chiropractors.
The G6 was founded more than a year ago, in December 2018. We have written and published a discussion paper, entitled: “The chiropractic profession, a community that must aim and achieve real respect for intra- professional differences: an essential condition for its survival,” in the form of a “Proclamation.” A one-page document, a “Declaration,” is attached to the Proclamation. Following this publication, several people have questioned the G6. We then published an explanatory document on our website, entitled “Solidarity and Respect,” written by one of our members, Dr. Richard Giguère, past president of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
In this article, I will explain the reason for the creation of the G6, its mission, its vision and its objectives for the present and future. I will also describe the different actions that have been undertaken and will present a summary of its achievements. Finally, some aspects of future G6 projects will be presented.
We, as a profession, are once again confronted to attacks from the outside (journalists, anti-chiropractic detractors) which were launched against chiropractors who probably went too far in their allegations, and consequently, would have exceeded ethical limits. This has been seen in England, France, the United States, and Canada. The problem is that some chiropractors may have said or done something that may have proved the critics of our profession right. This has resulted in a tightening of the regulations/articles of the codes of ethics by certain regulatory bodies, both in Canada, in Europe and in Australia (authoritative drifts).
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that an “International Coalition on Chiropractic Education” had taken form in 2014, following the congress of the WFC (the World Federation of Chiropractic) and the ECU (European Chiropractic Union), in South Africa (Durban). The coalition members signed a declaration, in which one of the statement is aiming to relegate the word subluxation to oblivion. This has aroused the anger of several groups and associations, all over the world, and in addition, we now see an international movement of discredit towards the vitalist or neo-vitalist faction of our profession. What happened in Berlin in March 2019 during the WFC Congress is just an example: For instance, the throwing of trash on stage at the same time a slide is shown of the rejection of the chiropractic subluxation, or the affirmation that the identification of subluxation on an X-ray is “rubbish.”
The third report of the Institute for Alternative Future in 2015 (Chiropractic 2025, Divergent Futures) came to throw a stone in the pond, giving an enlightened opinion recommending not to seek to UNITE the profession, but rather seek to cohabit with respect, categorizing the profession into three parts, Broad-Scope, Middle-Scope, and Focus-Scope. (SEE: http://www.altfutures.org/ pubs/chiropracticfutures/IAF-Chiropractic2025.pdf)
In December 2018, I decided to explore the contemporary professional reality of chiropractic even more, through my teachings and my research. I then decided to prepare a conference in order to share the information, called RISCQc(m), for “Information meeting on the situation of chiropractic in Quebec and in the world.”
On Saturday January 19, 2019 at UQTR-Campus in Drummondville, we presented the first conference, and on May 11, the second one. More than 80 hours of work was invested in the preparation of this conference, with 120 slides of presentations and more than 85 references throughout. Many involved in the leadership of the profession were present. For instance, the President’s of the Québec Chiropractors Association, the regulatory body and the research foundation were present. The conference has been recorded in full. We took a firm commitment to produce a report (the proclamation) following thses conferences, and to transmit it to the participants as well as to the academic and professional bodies worldwide in chiropractic – that is to say more than 300 organizations.
On our website, there are currently four texts: one by Dr. James Chestnut, DC, which is an open letter to the profession on evidence-based chiropractic; a text on cultural diversity and respect for differences, of which I am the author; the text of Dr. Richard Giguère, entitled “Solidarity and Respect.” Finally, the text of the Chiropractic Proclamation. Take the time to look at the references, especially the one by the sociologist and professor at the University of Texas, Dr. Yvonne Villanueva-Russel, PhD, as well as the third report of the Institute for Alternative Futures, (IAF), and its important findings, also referenced in the text. All of these readings will help you understand current issues and allow you to make a more informed judgment about the actual situation. Have also a look on the web site at the “Mosaic of testimonies” written by institutional leaders, researchers, field practionners and students.
In the future, we are considering the possibility of presenting the RISCQc(m) conference in the form of web capsules. We are preparing for the publication of an article in a scholarly journal. We are also studying the feasibility of a project for an “International Conference on the Professional Issues in Chiropractic” (ICPIC-2021), a conference to be held in Quebec City.
In conclusion, let us emphasize once again that the mission of G6 members is to put their voices and their energy at the service of the chiropractic profession and to help make it more respectful of its origins and what it can really bring to the health of our humanity. We are working towards establishing a greater degree of respect between the different parties or groups that compose it, as well as a more harmonious cohabitation. To do this, we want to create opportunities for constructive and structuring dialogue between all of us.
This article is a step in that direction. The G6 members remain available for any exchange. We will be pleased to present the RISCQc(m) conference to any group or organization interested. We strongly believe in the importance of constructive and respectful dialogue for a healthier chiropractic profession. If this resonates with you, please go to our web site at www.dialoguechiropratique. org and support (sign) the Declaration.
DR. ANDRÉ-MARIE GONTHIER is the Vice President of the Quebec Chiropractic Research Foundation (FCQ) and full professor in the Department of Chiropractic at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He was a former President of the Ordre des chiropraticiens du Québec (OCQ) from 2007-2011.
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