The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, should introduce legislation to regulate the practice of chiropractors in Ireland, the annual conference of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland has been told.
The current situation is "an accident waiting to happen", according to the association's vice-president, Mr James Cosgrave. "Self-regulation only goes so far. We need statutory regulations. The present situation could result in completely untrained people masquerading as qualified chiropractors," he said.
Mr Cosgrave on Friday said it was in the public interest that Mr Cowen create a register of chiropractors. "Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the world without a statutory basis for regulation of chiropractors and as such we are years behind. We should follow the lead of our European neighbours such as Britain, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, where the profession is regulated by law."
At present, he said, there were 54 chiropractors in the association and 35 Irish students studying chiropractic in the UK. "Membership is the only guarantee that a practitioner has undergone the full five-year training course."
Chiropractic specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal disoders, particularly those affecting the spine and its associated joints. Mr Cosgrave said a recent study carried out by the British Medical Research Council found chiropractic to be more successful in the treatment of lower chronic pain than standard medical treatments.
The conference was attended by more than 100 chiropractors from all over the world.
