In Terni on the 17th May 2002, the FNOMCeO held a National Convention on the theme “The Medical Profession and Non-conventional Medicines: Risks and Opportunities”.

The event, which was widely covered by the media, saw the participation of the 103 provincial chairpersons

ROME - The little world of chiropractic is knocking at the door. Little being just a turn of phrase. Here in Italy, between one and a half and two million people annually turn to the technique of “vertebral adjustment”, carried out using manual pressure, and without the use of drugs or surgery. A significant proportion of the five million patients using non-conventional therapies, homeopathy being the leading choice.

More than one million people in Rome use alternative medicine such as homeopathy, phytotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. This phenomenon is increasing all the time and has led doctors at a recent conference in Terni to request that these alternative forms of medicine be practised only by surgeons and graduates in medicine

The first step has been taken: the integration of alternative therapies into the bedrock of conventional medicine is a fact. But there’s still a lot to do. Starting with the law. Right now the Commission for Social Affairs is starting discussions on the 14 proposals presented, after which comes the unified text, and then, towards the end of October

Rome, Italy (April 5, 2002) In a historic press conference held in the Italian Parliament on April 4, 2002 the President of the Senate Committee on Health Affairs, Antonio Tomassini, a medical physician, demonstrated his support for the immediate movement within the Italian government for the recognition of the practice of chiropractic.

On May 17, 2002, the Italian Federation of Medical Doctors, Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO), effectively declared war on chiropractic in Italy, with the expressed intention of absorbing the chiropractic profession by legislative action. Their aim was to convince the Italian Parliament to officially declare chiropractic as a "medical act" to be practiced exclusively by medical doctors and dentists.

Presentation of case and law

1. With the sentence of the 28th March 2002, passed in the court chambers, as foreseen in article 129 of the Italian Penal Code, following the request for a penal conviction, the Judge for Initial Enquiries at the Court of Verona dismissed as unsound the case against the practitioners of “chiropractic” Luca Bennati and Michele Spangaro, regarding the offence laid out in articles 110 and 348 of the Penal Code, brought against the defendants because, in competition also with each other, and without possessing the required qualifications, they unlawfully practised

RULING 149/88. ILLEGAL EXERCISE OF A PROFESSION - PROHIBITION - EXERCISE OF CHIROPRACTIC WITHOUT A LEGAL QUALIFICATION - DEMONSTRATED INADMISSIBILITY OF THE MATTER. PENAL CODE ART. 348 - CONSTITUTION ART. 10 and 25.
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Until the State decides to regulate the exercise of the profession by requiring specific training, “Chiropractic” constitutes professional work governed in all its forms and applications (ex art. 35, para. 1 of the Constitution) and free private enterprise

There are probably as many as 300 Doctors of Chiropractic presently practicing in Italy. Something more than 10% are Italian, the majority is European and a good number are from North American origin.

The first confirmed chiropractic activity was seen in northeastern Italy in the late 40’s. In the early 1970’s there were a mere handful of DCs in the country. During the 80’s chiropractic enjoyed good growth, services delivered by chiropractors were also included in the vast and all comprehensive national health care system. Favorable mass media coverage enhanced the image of the profession.

They are not “bone-crushers”, or physiotherapists or simple manipulators. They are not medical doctors and do not wish to be considered as such. In their science, part philosophy and part medical art, there are neither drugs nor surgery. Chiropractors are doctors, in the sense that they are regular graduates in chiropractic after five years of university study.

All over the world (except in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece) they are «specialist health workers», on an equal footing with doctors and dentists. An army that, with over 100 thousand chiropractors in the USA

As it is customary within history, dates and facts are often times missing; the Italian story is no exception to this certainty. Although there is primary evidence that chiropractic activity was existent some fifty years ago, there is reason to believe that the profession was introduced much earlier. The name of a certain Dr. Pistolesi lingers in the minds of a few who reckon that this person was indeed a chiropractor who practiced in Rome

We have studied the proposal for a law on recognition of non-conventional practices and, from a reading of the first article, the indications would appear to be good.

The legislator, in the name of the Italian Republic and with respect to the Constitution, affirms: