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[See Follow-up: Defending Accurate Health Information: An Ongoing Mission at FCER]

The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER) and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recently received confirmation that the Harvard Health Letter will replace a misleading and biased statement about chiropractic spinal manipulation published in a recent promotional mailing. The change comes as a direct result of pressure placed on Harvard by the chiropractic organizations, particularly FCER Director of Research Anthony Rosner, Ph.D.

The anti-chiropractic statement was part of a "26 Health Revelations You Need to Know Now" promotional mailing and stated: "Did you know that about half the people who seek spinal manipulation from a chiropractor experience problems caused by the treatment?"

In his e-mail to the ACA, Edward Coburn, publishing director of Harvard Health Publications, said, "The brief item that appeared in our promotional mailing, while not incorrect, provides too little context to rule out your interpretation. That was not our intent. But I understand your interpretation and I do not want to leave the possibility for confusion. I have asked that we replace this item in our future promotional mailings." Coburn also mentioned that he had received a similar complaint from Dr. Rosner, who provided him with scientific studies on chiropractic.

The two chiropractic organizations made initial contact with the Harvard Health Letter in October regarding the promotional mailing, but neither received a response. The ACA had also written to Harvard Health Letter many times in the past on similarly anti-chiropractic material, but to no avail. In recent weeks both organizations again contacted the editorial staff of Harvard Health Publications, and were then sent similar replies from Coburn. As a result of unwavering persistence, negotiations are now underway to rectify the statement in question. Both FCER and the ACA will continue to monitor the situation and will take the profession's concerns to a higher level at Harvard, if the profession's concerns are not resolved in a satisfactory manner.

For more information, contact FCER's Robin Merrifield (FCERedit@aol.com) or ACA’s Angela Kargus (akargus@amerchiro.org).

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