[Originally published as Anti-vaccine chiropractors redux 8 – the deed is done]
Brian Johnson is a chiropractor from the US who has set up his business at West End Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, in Brisbane. He runs a Facebook page for the business. He also runs an open Facebook profile under the name “Brian Johnson DC”. If that isn’t an official chiropractor’s Facebook profile, used for professional purposes, I don’t know what is.
Let’s get straight into it. The first post is so embarrassing that we should probably just drop the mike after viewing it. Sharing a post from esteemed, world-renowned chiropractic researcher – I’m serious – Deed Harrison, Johnson gives us a stark insight into what is classed as high quality, peer-reviewed literature in the world of vitalistic, anti-vaccine chiropractic [my bold]:
I often get the question why my kids are not vaccinated. And quit often my partner Paola Velez is often made to feel like we are being irresponsible parents. It’s an easy burden for me to bear for the health of my children however I often get upset at the way her “friends” treat her regarding our choice for our children. One even had the audacity to suggest it was “child abuse”.We do not take any choice regarding our childrens health lightly and have done extensive research. I’ve even had Post Graduate Education regarding the mechanisms that vaccines use as well as the research on vaccine related injuries. So for anyone who questions why we make these choices for our family please take the time to review the PEER REVIEWED Medical research listed below.
(We love you all and understand you are viewing the world through your paradigm and experiences…. please understand we are doing the same…
The rest of the text added by Johnson is the original work of Deed Harrison:
Vaccination Using Human Fetal Cells, Hg (ethyl mercury really) and Autism Incidence is Correlated and/or Associated in 4 recent reports:
READ THEM!
1. http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JPHE/article-abstract/C98151247042
“Thus, rising autistic disorder prevalence is directly related to vaccines manufactured utilizing human fetal cells. Increased paternal age and DSM revisions were not related to rising autistic disorder prevalence.”
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25114790
“Association study”
“The present study provides new epidemiologic evidence showing that African American males receiving the MMR vaccine prior to 24 months of age or 36 months of age are more likely to receive an autism diagnosis”
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25198681
“the present study significantly associates organic-Hg exposure from T-HBV with an increased risk of an ND diagnosis” where ND is Neuro-developmental disorders.
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24354891
“Routine childhood vaccination is an important public health tool to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, but the present study provides new epidemiological evidence supporting an association between increasing organic-Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the subsequent risk of an ASD diagnosis”
My Kids are NOT VACCINATED! And they will not be under my watch–just a personal opinion based on reading evidence on both sides.
Enjoy your night.
Okay, I don’t usually go through examples of anti-vaccinationism by these chiropractors; but, to give you a really quick insight into the minds of these guys, let’s have a look at the citations:
1. This paper is so bad that he must be trolling. But, he’s not. Orac ripped through it here: Religious fundamentalists try to prove fetal DNA in vaccines causes autism and fail.
2. The disgraced, retracted Hooker paper.
3. Geiers.
4. Geiers.
That’s it. That is the sort of “PEER REVIEWED Medical research” presented by chiropractors in defence of their anti-vaccinationism. It is almost funny. Almost. This is the sort of responses they invariably receive. From underneath Johnson’s post:
*shudder*
Johnson’s professional profile contains much more anti-vaccinationism. Recently the flavour of the month has been the Hooker paper, since retracted, and all sorts of incorrect claims surrounding it. I think iReport may have removed this inaccurate blog post from its create-your-own-article site:
And where would any North American – and Australian – chiropractor be without citing the big kahuna, Andrew Wakefield; the guy who outed the supposed “CDC whistle-blower” without his permission. Nice guy Andy:
Of course we see all sorts of claims surrounding death by Gardasil; but, we never see any retractions or corrections when they make false claims, or even when they are just JAQing off:
Here is an excellent related post shared from Billy DeMoss – in obligatory DeMoss Sans™ – again claiming multiple deaths from the HPV vaccine. What the grunts on Johnson’s page won’t ever hear is that the claim is untrue; or that DeMoss thinks like he writes:
Earlier this year Johnson shared this post from the anti-vaccine organisation, NVIC, claiming that vaccines are not safe:
Johnson would also have his followers believe that flu vaccines are just the same as cigarettes:
Even back in 2010 Johnson was sharing the lie that vaccines cause autism, exhorting his faithful: “Finally!! Please educate yourself”:
And, finally, in anti-vaccine related skullduggery, Johnson shared this vile post which warns parents off getting the Vitamin K shot for their newborn. Because everyone loves a dead baby, right?
We get the usual vitalistic chiropractic unfounded claims as well. Ear infections:
And the claim that chiropractic adjustments boost your immunity. 400% is WAY over 9000, you guys:
Earlier this year Billy DeMoss called out for a “TOR” in Brisbane. Much to DeMoss’ chagrin, I’m sure, we love seeing him post, and getting himself involved in Australian chiropractic:
Far from what DeMoss believes – that he is having an impact because he has more page likes – his association with any Australian chiropractors sets them aside from their peers as people of poor repute, to be investigated further. DeMoss is a red flag, and it helps that he is extremely loud.
Anyway, Johnson answered DeMoss’ call, which is how I first noticed him, back in January. So, Johnson classes himself as a “subluxation based TOR”, yet, does not make any mention of this on his website. Given this is the basis of Johnson’s beliefs, as outed by DeMoss, I wanted to have a look at just some of the anti-vaccine Johnson’s customers who appear in his Facebook advertising. There are too many to include all of them.
A baby first adjusted when he was two weeks old:
Another baby getting adjusted for some reason, including the claim, “Chiropractic families are the happiest families”. I would like to see that advertising claim tested:
And Johnson does not limit himself to humans:
Of course, this wouldn’t be a post on anti-vaccine chiropractors without the mandatory screenshot of their banned/prohibited testimonials:
I always wonder, I do, when the Chiropractic Board of Australia is going to get around to conducting their promised audits, delivered from on high in their August 8 2013 chest-thumping media release. Scrolling through a Facebook page and looking at the content is quite easy. One might even claim that anyone could do it. They even have these Advertising guidelines which the CBA could apply:
Is it just me, or does the activator clicky-thing being used on that baby in the pink look like a handgun?
Am I weird for being a put off by the photo?
I agree – it looks bizarre. AND doesn’t do anything anyway.
And don’t get me started on the arrogance of a ‘professional’ who thinks his whole course gives him the expertise to treat any and all of the animal kingdom. Hear that, vets and doctors? You’re wasting your time and money-earning potential on such limited education. :/
Oh bugger. He’s just around the corner 🙂
Clearly your patient population doesn’t overlap, Doug. Yours must be more discerning.
Ergh!!!! Scary to think that we have the same professional title. So much woo from such a crazy small number of the prof
Is it really a small number? I know that in my random Google searches, it was never difficult to find chiropractors who seemed to be on the wrong side of science. Maybe the woo-practitioners are more prone to advertising?
Even so, the numbers are not insignificant, and far from “fringe”, so you have to wonder why your regulators don’t appear to give a toss about the issue. What excuses do they give you when you continually lodge complaints about your colleagues?
As I’ve said for 30 yrs, chiropractors are wanna be doctors that were too stupid and unable to get into medical school and now you see why.
What a weak self governing body. Lying scammers, money making sharks.
And don’t get me started on the dog!
In reply to Andy:
Surveys in USA, Canada, Europe and Australia all consistently put the subbies at 10-15% of the profession. It is the job of the critics (within and without) to point them out and hold them to account. This is very important for the profession. Unfortunately the majority, by their mere silence are endorsing their nonsense. This is changing but they need to be more vocal and more involved.
If it really is as low as 10-15% in Australia, then you definitely have a severe image problem. I would have guessed closer to 50%, if not over 50%. That might largely be because I can’t accept that a 85-90% majority would sit back and allow their regulating body to do nothing about those who bring their profession into disrepute.
From the outside, for me at least, that suggests that while 10-15% might be vocally anti-science, they must enjoy quite a bit of silent support among the remainder.
I’m with you, Andy. Call it confirmation bias, and I am aware of it, but, I just cannot help tripping over vitalists. Even when checking the websites of new CAA board members, of whom I am assured they are evidence-based, I stumble across baby treating members of the ICPA who replace the word “subluxation” with “nervous interference”.
To be honest, I’m starting to have more respect for the subluxationists who retain the word in their literature, not hiding behind weasel words which mean the same thing in the real world. At least they are proud enough to wear their crazy, and defend it.
Is the “15%” just those who wear it like a badge of courage? There’s a big missing percentage who hide it like a scarlet letter, under their coats.
It is not fair to the public.
“It is the job of the critics (within and without) to point them out and hold them to account.”
And therein lies your problem, TC. The regulatory bodies do only what is minimally required of them, if that. It is the job of the Chiropractic Board of Australia to “hold them to account”.
The CBA is doing a wonderful job of ‘holding them to account’ if, and only if, “holding them to account” means “thrashing them gently with a warm leaf of lettuce whilst telling the chiropractor, ‘there, there my sweet’.”
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