| The State of Italian Chiropractic in a Nutshell – or a Bombshell |
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The Federazione Nazionale Ordine dei Medici Chirughi e Odontoiatri (FNOMCeO) has declared that Chiropractic is a “medical act” and therefore only to be practised by medical doctors. This has now been followed by a Supreme Court decision to the same effect.
In May 2002, at a convention of the FNOMCeO (the National Federation of Medical Doctors, Surgeons and Dentists) – on the subject of non-conventional medicines, it was determined by majority vote that Chiropractic and eight other alternative medicines are to be considered as “medical acts” and therefore to be practised only by members of FNOMCeO, which is forcing related legislation through Parliament. FNOMCeO has also called for a ban on the practice of Chiropractic by Doctors of Chiropractic. The group is the Italian equivalent to the American Medical Association, and includes dentistry. As in all parts of the world, it is a powerful lobby in political affairs.
The FNOMCeO decision was followed on 21 July 2003 by a court ruling through which the Italian Supreme Court declared chiropractic to be a "medical act" that could in future be practised only by medical doctors. The ruling is the result of a lawsuit brought against two chiropractors in Italy for practicing medicine without a licence. In the lower courts, the defendants initially won the case based on an earlier Constitutional Court decision that chiropractic as a profession was not recognized by law and therefore did not constitute practicing medicine without a licence. The plaintiffs appealed the decision and took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the procedures conducted by a chiropractor must under current Italian law be considered within the sphere of medical practice.
Why has all this happened? One reason is economic. This line of action by the medical establishment developed after a national survey revealed that more than 9 million Italians utilize some form of non-medical health alternative. There are over 300,000 medical doctors in Italy, which has a population of 56 million – one MD for every 185 persons, which is the highest ratio in the world! Of the 300,000 MDs, 80,000 are unemployed. The political medical establishment openly states its concern to find work for unemployed colleagues. Banning competition seems to be its first choice of action.
For a better understanding of the situation evolving in Italy, please browse the following: Current information:
Background information:
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