The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has entered into discussions with the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) on a possible merger of the two groups.

A resolution approved by the ACA House of Delegates (HOD) during the organization's annual meeting in September invited the ICA "to join the ACA in forming a 'Unity Committee' that will be charged with the responsibility of developing a merger proposal that will be presented to both organizations for formal adoption at the earliest possible time."

The ACA said the merger talks are appropriate since the "ACA and the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) maintain almost identical official policies."

ICA President Dr. Robert Hoffman and Executive Director Ron Hendrickson have already met with the ACA Board of Governors on the possibility of a merger.

The ICA officially stated that the purpose of meetings was to discuss "more unified action." In an ICA publication, Hoffman noted that "[A merger] is not the intent in the beginning. It may be the end product."

Hoffman also proposed a joint ICA/ACA convention, a joint legislative conference, a joint effort to reform the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and a "joint effort to confront fringe chiropractic groups that publicly criticize the profession." There was no explanation as to which groups they consider "fringe" groups although many observers felt it was a thinly veiled reference to the World Chiropractic Alliance.

The ACA's renewed desire for a merger with the ICA may have been the impetus for several other resolutions, including one which discourages the use of the term "chiropractic medicine."

The passage of that resolution completely contradicts the position of ACA's Chairman of the Board J. Michael Flynn, who stated -- at the Chiropractic Town Hall earlier this year -- that doctors should not be afraid of the term "chiropractic medicine" since it could increase "access, acceptance and reimbursement."

The ACA's reaffirmation of "the core principles of subluxation" came almost at the same time as its attempt to lobby for legislation which could have categorized chiropractic as a treatment for musculoskeletal conditions within the Veterans Affairs health services programs.

In the mid 1980s, the ACA's failed attempt to push for a merger of the two groups caused a splintering of the ICA, with outgoing ICA President Michael Pedigo, D.C., later leading a mass desertion to the ACA. In 1987, the two groups even held a joint convention but, according to Dr. Sid Williams, then chairman of the ICA Board, less than 100 ICA members attended.

Although Dr. Pedigo expressed optimism about the merger, then newly elected ACA President Kenneth Luedtke, D.C., was less confident, saying, "We live in democracy and if we let that democracy function, we can all live together. Very few shotgun marriages have good results." Luedtke did admit that, "The truth is, there's very little that separates us."

There may be even less separating the two today. According to the ICA, Hoffman noted that the "ICA and ACA should be able to agree on 80 to 90 percent of what ICA proposes."

Both groups share many positions, including support of the World Federation of Chiropractic. Both organizations also worked together on the Veterans Affairs bill which could have limited chiropractic to the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and prevented access to subluxation correction care by veterans.

He added that the "merger of the ACA and ICA cannot occur as long as the ICA remains committed to promoting chiropractic as separate and distinct from medicine based on the vitalistic philosophy of the chiropractor."

Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., president of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) stated that he is watching the developments with interest but thinks the merger is more of a takeover.

"The ACA is clearly hurting, particularly since its presence in Washington has been overshadowed by the WCA's successes," Dr. Rondberg stated. "In response, it is resorting to the old AMA tactic of calling other groups 'fringe' groups which should not be allowed to exist."

In recent weeks, the ACA's ill-conceived Veterans proposal was defeated by a WCA-generated grassroots protest and a WCA board member was selected to serve on the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In addition, membership in both the ACA and ICA has reportedly dropped significantly during the past few years.