Chiropractic Philosophy?

Editor's note. This is the third essay in a series of five from Dr. Sanford Black.

By Dr. Sanford Black

Today’s remarks are not about you and me – just the other feller. Practice mistakes are seldom ever heard about. NO one enjoys telling about their own errors but we can all learn from them. For example, if your patient does not respond properly, as expected, after being adjusted several times over a considerable length of time. A very careful and complete re-Analysis and evaluation is definitely indicated. Once you have discovered your mistake and have been properly horrified by it, your efforts will be rewarded by the patient’s favorable response.

A common mistake that is often made by the Chiropractors is the lack of understanding that we have about the Innate power within the patient’s body. When we make a preliminary consultation we often decide that the patient’s ability to recover is very, very poor. Sometimes we even refer that patient because we fail to have confidence in that particular area of human dysfunction – another mistake.

On occasion the Chiropractor is only considering a “new” acute problem. Research into the patient’s history would have revealed the long standing chronic problem underlying the initial complaint. This is very often a result of hurry and pressure of waiting patients so that enough time was not available for that particular patient.

Each Chiropractic Practice is unique and different. Each has routine procedures that often become locked in concrete. To change even a small detail in an area such as patient traffic within the Clinic is almost impossible – Another mistake!

Another common mistake made by many Chiropractors is their failure to recognize their own professional needs. Sometimes, if the truth were known, the last thin new that the Chiropractor learned was in the last period just before his graduation and award of the D.C. degree. Resistance to change and condemnation of new procedures and other new knowledge is found particularly in the mature Chiropractor in the middle of an advanced successful practice.

Enough of this subject. Philosophy can turn into meddlesome questions unless one is very careful. Just like when the brown cow eats green grass and gives white milk.