Anti-vaccine chiropractors 52

[Originally published as Anti-vaccine chiropractors redux 2]

Today’s post will be rather underwhelming compared to the last one. That one was napalm-grade. But, it shouldn’t be underwhelming. The problem of chiropractors spreading misinformation about immunisation and other health-related issues still exists. And there doesn’t appear to be a lot of action coming from the regulator, the Chiropractic Board of Australia, despite a wealth of damning evidence of continued instances of this misinformation being readily available to them. Remember, the CBA are the ones who claimed they were going to conduct audits: a proactive step, to be sure, if ever carried out. From their own media release:

The Chiropractic Board of Australia cracks down to protect the public.

The Chiropractic Board of Australia is cracking down on chiropractors who step outside their primary role as healthcare practitioners and provide treatment that puts the public at risk.

To protect public safety, the Board has:

– ordered practitioners to remove all anti-vaccination material from their websites and clinics
– removed several courses from the list of approved CPD programs, and
introduced random audits of practitioner compliance with the Board’s registration standards. [Media Release August 8 2013]

Today I want to introduce you to Mr Grant Bond, who runs a business called The Back Dr Shellharbour. Bond doesn’t appear to be a member of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia, which is odd as he appears to share their general philosophy. Bond is/was also a member of the rabidly dishonest anti-vaccination organisation, the Australian Vaccination Network. Indeed, his business page still lists the AVN among its likes:

Bond 12 likes AVNI had seen Bond’s name before on the professional membership list of the AVN, but, thanks to a Twitter friend, his name popped up again.

On October 8 2013, two months after the CBA ordered chiropractors to stop making claims about immunisation, Bond uploaded this video (which I have also downloaded), on the subject of “Boosting Immunity Naturally”. It is a common occurrence on chiropractic pages for them to make advertising claims that chiropractic will boost your immunity. What I didn’t expect to see so brazenly stated in the video is a denial that immunisation can boost one’s immunity, or make it “stronger”:

Bond 10 chiropractic boosts immunity not immunisations video

In fact, if it was a contest, I’d put my old car on immunisation being able to boost your immunity much better than chiropractic. Of course Bond would beg to differ:

Bond 11 chiropractic is safe and natural alternative to immunisationIn another video Bond claims to be able to treat ear infections. We know this is just wrong. This is a false claim. This is false advertising. Yet, it is a claim so prevalent throughout chiropractic that the CBA must just ignore it. They see it. They must. But, they must ignore it:

Bond 9 treats ear infections videoMoving onto Bond’s Facebook page we see the promotion of the anti-vaccine documentary The Greater Good:

Bond 2 Greater GoodIn another post there is an attempt to show balance by linking to Jabbed (a real, factual, balanced immunisation documentary); however, the post is undermined by their own clumsiness, alluding again to The Greater Good as a documentary which provides a “deeper insight…into the topic of vaccines”. Jabbed is also slurred as being “funded by the Australian Government”. That’s basically code for censorship, distrust of the man, and possibly government mind-control, or something:

Bond 3 Greater Good gives deeper insight than Jabbed

Now, remember, Bond wanted to hold an anti-vaccination movie night. He supports rabid anti-vaccination organisations. He has odd beliefs about chiropractic providing a stronger immunity than immunisations. And, he treats babies and children, using them in his advertising:

Bond 8 kids and babies in advertsingAdjusting a baby to “help her get over her flu”. You read that right.

In this post Bond goes a step further with his treatment claims:

Do you know a child that suffers from chronic ear infections, re current colds & flu, “growing pains” bed wetting, ADHD or trouble concentrating at school? Refer them in for a complimentary assessment with us today so they can start enjoying life more.

Bond 13 ADHD, bed wetting, colds flu, ear infections

And, to top it all off, Bond is also an anti-fluoridationist…

Bond 1 anti fluorideAs one would expect, Bond also relies on the banned use of testimonials to promote his business. But, not only does he encourage testimonials, he entices testimonials with the offer of gifts:

Bond 6 testimonials enticed with giftsAnd did this enticement with free gifts pay off? You bet it did. There are 22 testimonials on this page  :

Bond 7 testimonials true localWhilst there are another 20 testimonials on Google Places:

Bond 14 Google places testimonials

This is what the Chiropractic Board of Australia has to say about the use of testimonials:

Guidelines for advertising of regulated health services

5 What is unacceptable advertising?

This section is intended to provide a clear indication of the
type of advertising of services that the boards consider to
be unacceptable. Where examples are provided, they are
intended to assist practitioners and other persons who
advertise regulated health services to comply with the
advertising provisions of the National Law. They are not
intended to be exhaustive.

To comply with s. 133 of the National Law and these
guidelines, advertising of services must not:

(d) use testimonials or purported testimonials

So come on Chiropractic Board of Australia. I’ve brought the random audit to you. Whilst chiropractors like this guy, and all of the others I’ve featured, appear free to conduct themselves like this, the decent guys of the Chiropractic and Osteopathic College of Australasia are being tarred with this unfortunate brush.

The whole thing is a dog’s breakfast.

Wait, what?

Bond 4 adjusting puppy activatorDogs are people too.

I’m still waiting for the course number from any Australian university which runs animal chiropractic courses.

About reasonable hank

I'm reasonable, mostly.
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0 Responses to Anti-vaccine chiropractors 52

  1. ’…Safe and natural…’
    What the hell is ‘natural’ about chiropracty? No, non-evidence based chiros, I really want to know. At what point is physical manipulation of the spine to ‘adjust’ mythical, magical subluxations natural?
    And safe? Don’t get me started. Chiropractors cannot claim safety to any degree of certainty, because your professional bodies refuse to entertain the idea of any sort of adverse event reporting/review system. And when serious adverse events are reported by medical practitioners your Board seemingly goes out of it’s way to find chiropractic treatments and chiropractors not at fault.
    So no – chiropracty is neither safe nor natural. It certainlydoesnot boost immune systems, treat bed wetting, otitis media or any other malady. And it’s certainly not effective if there is no discharge plan or end point of treatment. Adjustments to fix things then adjustments to stay fixed? Please, if my mechanic tried that tripe he’d lose a customer.

    There is some evidence that chiropracty can assist with lower musculoskeletal back pain. Good, ethical, evidence based chiropractors know this. They also stay away from manipulating the cervical spine. The rest of the magical subluxation as the root of all health problems chiros are basing their ‘practice’ and belief and the bottom line. 5 years of University or not.

  2. Darkly Venus says:

    Perhaps the CBA should ditch random audits for targeted audits of practitioners named as breaching the code. But then you’d get the charade where they spend months pushing emails around and holding meetings where they look for excuses not to take disciplinary action.

  3. Annette. says:

    And still no word about an Adverse Events Register, none.

    You cannot claim anything is safe without a measurement, a baseline a reporting system.
    No evidence based practice for these clowns who continue to take money from the public.

    On a lighter note Hank, any word about legal action from “The Legal team of The Back Dr of Shellharbour”?

  4. Christine Bayne says:

    From his website FAQ page: http://thebackdr.com.au/new-patient-centre/faqs.html

    Chiropractic can be especially beneficial for
    Babies suffering from colic
    Kids with chronic ear infections
    Children diagnosed with any form of ADHD

    Someone, anyone, get these idjits out of health care.

  5. NK says:

    That smile on his face as he works on the dog just says “haha I’m making money out of ALL the things.”

    • Nilbeliever says:

      He only did that adjustment becoz the puppy was colicky…

      Or to boost its immunity… or…

      Nope, you’re right. It’s likely the $$$…

  6. Sue says:

    As assessment of safety of any health care practice involves not only any complications from physical procedures, but also all the cognitive functions of practice, and notably, DIAGNOSIS.

    What is the diagnostic accuracy of a subluxation-focused Chiro? Close to zero, one would think.

    A practice with such poor diagnostic accuracy certainly is not ”safe”, let alone effective (beyond placebo).

  7. A dog! Sheesh! When was the last time you went to see your GP and he / she had just treated a dog? These people have vivid imaginations, I’ll give them that much.

    • Andy says:

      When was the last time your GP even let a dog into the clinic?

      • Thinus says:

        I have a couple of dogs who attend our GP Clinic regularly – Rosie the seeing-eye dog and Sailor the companion dog for my very unstable epileptic who warns all of us when she is about have a seizure. We even occasionally have stray dogs rock up who we stick in the staff kitchen while waiting for the owners to collect. However, as for treating them – no way. The only dogs I occasionally treat are my own, at home and under the guidance of our Vet

        • Andy says:

          I thought about guide dogs some time after commenting. I’ve certainly never seen any pets in any GP clinic I’ve attended so, based on my own anecdotal experience (the kind most supported by the anti-vax lobby), I can declare that no pet has ever been inside a GP clinic.

  8. Stephen says:

    Yet another charlatan preying on the unwary.
    Thanks, as always, for your efforts mate.

  9. SM says:

    What a quack. If you want to be treated like a regulated professional then act like a regulated professional.

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