There has been a great deal of confusion and misinformation about the World Chiropractic Alliance and its founder and president, Dr. Terry A. Rondberg, particularly concerning legislative actions. Recently, The American Chiropractor magazine interviewed Dr. Rondberg, as well as ACC President Kenneth Padgett, D.C., on "Chiropractic on the Hill." The result was an informative and fascinating look at the WCA's goals and the methods it has used to accomplish great things in Washington.

Dr. Rondberg's interview is printed below. For the complete article, visit The America Chiropractor's website.

Dr. Terry Rondberg is a prominent leader in the chiropractic profession. After graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1974, he began his private practice, helping thousands of patients from offices in St. Louis and Phoenix.

In 1986, he founded The Chiropractic Journal, a successful, widely read international monthly newspaper focusing on public information and political action concerning chiropractic. In 1989, Dr. Rondberg founded the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), a non-profit "watchdog" organization which has led the movement to protect consumers’ rights to name chiropractic as their first choice in health care.

In 1998, the WCA was recognized as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations and approved for association with the Department of Information of the UN. Dr. Rondberg founded Chiropractic Benefit Services, as yet another way to provide much needed services to subluxation-based chiropractors around the world.

Dr. Rondberg puts his communication skills to full use as a speaker at chiropractic conventions and seminars, on college campuses, and at a variety of other chiropractic events. He has also appeared on numerous radio and television shows, and is the author of a number of books on chiropractic for both professional and lay audiences, including Chiropractic First, Under the Influence of Modern Medicine, the CBS Malpractice Prevention Program, and Chiropractic: Compassion and Expectation. In addition to The Chiropractic Journal, he publishes the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, a scientific peer-reviewed journal, and the weekly online newsletter Health Watch.

Dr. Rondberg serves as the President of the World Chiropractic Alliance.

The American Chiropractor: Please tell us the purpose, direction, and goals of the WCA.

Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.: The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) was founded in 1989 as a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening chiropractic around the world. It serves as a "watchdog" and advocacy organization, with emphasis on education and political action. We passionately defend the rights of subluxation-based doctors and stand up against those who attempt to corrupt chiropractic by denying its philosophical and vitalistic foundations.

TAC: Do you see yourself and your organization working together with or against the other chiropractic associations such as the ACA and ICA?

TAR: The World Chiropractic Alliance has always been willing to work with the ACA, ICA and other chiropractic organizations, on those issues where we can agree. However, we will not compromise chiropractic principles in order to create a sense of false harmony or to win "acceptance" by any other organization or profession. We want to work toward unified action, but, if necessary, are willing to stand alone in such important matters as opposing the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), or demanding recognition of chiropractic as a unique, subluxation-based health care discipline. We have stated, again and again, that we are interested in working with the other groups. Unfortunately, until now, they have excluded us whenever possible. I think they realize that is impossible now, and, therefore, we might be able to make real progress.

TAC: What common parameters do you feel your organizations share?

TAR: That’s difficult to say, since the stated principles of some organizations are not always congruent with their actions. For example, the ACC document is completely embraced by the WCA, and was the entire basis of Section 2 of the WCA VA Position Paper. At one of the VA meetings, the WCA and the ICA fought for the recognition and inclusion of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges Position Paper No. 1. The ACC did not even mention any of their own stated principles, let alone fight for the inclusion of their own document.

I would like to believe we all share a sincere desire to promote chiropractic as a unique, drug-free, and non-invasive form of health care, centered on the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation, as stated in the ACC Position Paper No. 1. This entails safeguarding the uniquely chiropractic terminology and respect for our historical foundations. I would also hope that all organizations unconditionally respect the right of each doctor to practice in harmony with his or her own chiropractic philosophy, whether this means focusing solely on subluxation correction or incorporating complementary therapies.

TAC: In what areas do you feel you are completely at odds?

TAR: Our strong position on chiropractic as a unique, non-medical, subluxation-based health care system has frequently put us in direct opposition to those groups promoting chiropractic as a medical therapy for neuromusculoskeletal conditions or other medical diseases or conditions. Chiropractic is not a form of treatment, and it is self-destructive to present it as such—whether to justify an insurance claim or to win the approval of the medical profession. Normally, this philosophical difference manifests itself in actions which can directly affect the profession. For instance, the World Chiropractic Alliance opposes the World Federation of Chiropractic, because it has shown itself to be clearly opposed to the use of the terms subluxation, or the correction of vertebral subluxation as the basis of chiropractic. Its leaders have repeatedly made statements ridiculing the concept of subluxation correction, yet they continue in their attempts to regulate chiropractic throughout the world, while lacking any authority to do so. Other organizations and chiropractic colleges pay large amounts of money to belong to this group, thereby providing it with both financial support and credibility. This incongruency is one area in which we are completely at odds with the other groups. Another area is federal legislation. Other organizations have supported legislation, such as the recent provision in the VA bill, which would limit chiropractic to the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and which does not even mention subluxation correction as an element of chiropractic care. We oppose such legislation.

TAC: Do you see the possibility for the WCA of joint lobbying with the ACA, ICA, etc?

TAR: Yes, definitely. In fact, we have developed a very specific Legislative Policy Statement, which sets out clearly our minimum requirements for any chiropractic legislation. There are just five points we feel are absolutely mandatory:

1.Explicit inclusion of chiropractic for the detection, correction and management of vertebral subluxation; 2.Recognition of vertebral subluxation as a reason for chiropractic care; 3.Exclusion of drugs and surgery or any mandate for medical diagnosis; 4.Direct access to chiropractic care, without referral by any other provider; and 5.Participation in covered programs open to any willing licensed chiropractor.

It’s hard to understand why any chiropractic organization would have a problem with making sure that chiropractic legislation excludes drugs, provides for direct access, or includes subluxation correction. Keep in mind that the World Chiropractic Alliance doesn’t want to exclude any therapies legally performed by chiropractors. We will not oppose the inclusion of additional provisions, once these minimal requirements are met.

I would welcome the opportunity to have all chiropractic organizations present a unified front to the legislature. We would need to come together to develop appropriate language, then work in harmony to lobby for its passage.

TAC: Is the WCA funding any political actions either in Washington or in the various states?

TAR: We have a professional lobbyist and a WCA office in Washington D.C., and we constantly monitor the Senate and House of Representatives for chiropractic-related legislation. Through our International Board of Governors, we also are kept up-to-date on political actions on the state and international levels, and will lend our assistance whenever help is requested or needed. Right now, for example, we are developing input into the Department of Defense chiropractic implementation procedures here in the U.S., and assisting our affiliated organization in Israel to earn licensure status there.

TAC: Recently the WCA achieved notoriety for its actions involving chiropractic and the VA Inclusion Bill. Can you explain exactly what happened and why?

TAR: This is a very involved situation, but I’ll try to summarize it here. Complete information is available at the WCA website (www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2000/nov/nov2000a.htm).

Let me give a bit of background first. In February 2000, representatives from various chiropractic organizations—including the WCA, ACA, ICA, and ACC—met with officials of the Veterans Health Administration to assist in the development of its chiropractic utilization policy. At that time, the WCA filed a position paper with the VA, explaining chiropractic as a unique service focused on the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation. In contrast, the ACA submitted a report to the VA stating that chiropractic is "a branch of the healing arts that is concerned with human health and disease processes." The 50-page ACA report referred repeatedly to chiropractic’s role in treating low back pain, but never once used "vertebral subluxation." This was of great concern to the WCA and to doctors around the world.

The ACA, ICA and ACC representatives got together—without any input from the WCA—and drafted legislative language, which they submitted as a provision to the VA bill. The provision contained some positive elements, such as allowing for full and direct access to chiropractic.

However, it also stated that chiropractic was to be made available "for neuromusculoskeletal conditions typical of those affecting all age groups within the eligible veterans population…. " Again, as in the ACA report, there was no mention of chiropractic for subluxation correction. Legal and legislative experts agreed that, given the medical opposition to chiropractic inclusion, the provision would probably be interpreted as allowing chiropractic care ONLY for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Since medical doctors are also available for those services, chiropractors would effectively be excluded from the system, since there was no provision for our unique role. Although the World Chiropractic Alliance very much wants to have DC’s in the VA health care system, we realized that this method of getting our foot in the door would not guarantee a meaningful role for chiropractic. We sent written testimony to the House Committee explaining our concerns. We also posted the information on our website and asked doctors who agreed with us to contact their Representatives and Senators. They did so, in great numbers, and, according to our lobbyist in Washington, the House committee members—faced with disagreement among chiropractors themselves—chose to pull the provision.

Unfortunately, the ACA reacted vehemently and immediately began sending out press releases denouncing the World Chiropractic Alliance, calling it a "fringe group," and accusing it of working with the medical and physical therapy lobbyists. This is totally untrue. We understand why the ACA and other supporters of the provision were disappointed by their failure, but it is not productive to try to blame a scapegoat. The truth is, the profession did not agree about the wording of the provision and made sure its opinion was heard. Isn’t that what democracy is about? I think this issue provided a valuable opportunity for all organizations to learn firsthand what field doctors really want, and to see the influence they can have when informed of what’s going on in Washington.

When the chiropractic profession resubmits the VA provision—or when we face other similar situations, as we will very soon with the Department of Defense—I hope all organizations can work together to develop legislative language, which will be accepted by the profession as a whole. Only then, can we be sure that we will have success in Washington and end this chiropractic gridlock.

TAC: Dr. Rondberg, your critics address with concern two specific areas regarding your association: 1. The WCA’s membership totals, which, it has been stated, the WCA has never revealed to Washington; and, 2. The fact that your position as President of the WCA is a self-appointed position, rather than by election of your members, as with most other associations. How do you respond to these two concerns?

TAR: I have never understood why everyone focuses so much on membership numbers. Obviously, we aren’t the largest group, but their is no organization that represents a majority of chiropractic. The ACA and the ICA combined represent less than one-fourth of the licensed doctors in the United States. Rather than concentrate on membership, let’s consider the WCA’s accomplishments:

We have been highly successful in legislative lobbying efforts on the federal and state levels. One of our seven WCA executive board members was the only chiropractor chosen to serve on the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the President of the United States. The ACA has already extended an invitation to this same distinguished WCA Board Member, Dr.Veronica Gutierrez, to address their ACA Board of Governors. WCA remains the only chiropractic organization in the world invited to serve as an associated NGO (non-governmental organization) with the United Nations Department of Public Information. The WCA gave the first and only chiropractic presentation to the International NGO Conference in Korea. WCA board member, Dr. Christopher Kent, is serving as our main representative to the United Nations DPI, and has been elected to serve as treasurer of another NGO Health Committee. The WCA is in the process of developing a working relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) and has already held discussions with WHO officials in Geneva about future chiropractic projects concerning model chiropractic laws and chiropractic guidelines throughout the world. We helped fund the development and distribution of the Council on Chiropractic Practice (CCP) Guidelines, so that doctors would not be held hostage to the dictates of the Mercy document. We are currently funding a research project to investigate the impact of vertebral subluxation on the immune system. The WCA maintains a website completely free of advertising, which provides news to the profession, as well as consumer information to millions of potential chiropractic patients. We have published three patient education books on chiropractic (two of which are distributed free on our website); and The WCA publishes the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), the only scientific, peer-reviewed, subluxation-based chiropractic journal that focuses exclusively on vertebral subluxation.

If we can do all this with a relatively small number of members, imagine what we’ll be able to do as we continue to grow! Perhaps the question we need to ask is not how many members we have, but why other organizations—with many more members and, therefore, much more revenue—haven’t accomplished as much.

In response to your question about my "self-appointed" position as president—yes, it’s true that, when I started WCA, I took on the role of president without being "elected" by anyone. That’s because there wasn’t anyone around to elect me. I started the WCA with my own money and have continued to finance nearly all its activities, including lobbying and public relations. I was up front about the structure of the WCA, and asked doctors to join ONLY if they trusted me to take whatever action was needed to protect subluxation-based chiropractic. The alternative was another top-heavy organization, stymied at every turn by infighting, political maneuvering, and bureaucratic red tape. The doctors who joined WCA thought it was time to try an "unconventional" organization, with leaders who were more interested in getting things done than in campaigning for elected office and jockeying for position.

I would like to point out that, when the Cleveland, Palmer and Life Colleges began, their presidents and founders established boards, and many of these presidents continue to serve their schools. The only difference between them and me is that I have never drawn a salary for my work and, in fact, have financially supported many of the WCA activities for years. I continue to donate all of my time and a great deal of money to the WCA, as needed. I will never accept any monetary gain from the WCA organization, or profit from my efforts on behalf of the WCA. I will continue to serve as the president of the organization, as long as the board of directors have confidence in my ability. And, as long as this benefits the doctors, the profession and the patients we all serve. The WCA is, indeed, a labor of love for me and my family, and it has been one way of giving back to the profession.

Now that the WCA has grown to the point that it is almost self-sufficient financially, I have turned to other leaders in the subluxation-based chiropractic community and asked them to join me. Our current Board of Directors includes Drs. Fred Barge, Christopher Kent, Patrick Gentempo, and Veronica Gutierrez, as well as my wife Cindy Rondberg, and my son-in-law Timothy Feuling, who also serves as the vice president of Chiropractic Benefit Services. Upon the end of their terms, all Board positions—including that of the President—will be filled by a vote of the rest of the Board members. In addition, we have an International Board of Governors made up of doctors around the world, and headed by Dr. Stuart Warner.

One reason our members don’t object to the way the WCA works is that they know their voice counts. We listen to them, solicit their input, and take swift action to help them when they need it. They are the only ones who are in a position to judge whether or not the WCA structure is "proper"; and they vote with their membership dues. So far, it’s been working, since we are growing steadily. Of course, if other organizations object to the WCA’s administrative procedures, they are free to formulate their own. That way, doctors can have a chance to choose whichever organizations they feel are most effective.

TAC: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers? Advice you’d like to give to the practicing doctor of chiropractic?

TAR: Yes, there is, and I thank The American Chiropractor for giving me this opportunity to talk to the profession. I want to stress that chiropractic isn’t alone in appearing "divided" on important issues. Every profession has internal conflicts. Medical doctors, lawyers, journalists—they are all made up of individuals who agree some of the time and disagree at others. That’s the nature of the beast. Yet, these professions can and do engage in unified action on critical issues. It involves setting aside personal animosities and petty power struggles. It requires a willingness to do what’s best for the profession as a whole, rather than what’s expedient for the organization. Most of all, it calls for the active participation by all practitioners who have an interest in the process.

Things are moving quickly in the chiropractic profession, and we face important decisions every day. Chiropractic organizations should not be forced—or, indeed allowed—to make those decisions without input from practicing doctors. That’s why it’s vital for all doctors of chiropractic to look at the statements and actions of each group and support those most closely aligned with their own principles. At the very least, they need to join that organization. If they can, they should volunteer or serve in that group.