It is important to acknowledge the difference between the health care specialists of chiropractic, osteopathy and medicine. Chiropractic health care seeks to restore health through natural means without the use of medicine or surgery. This gives the body maximum opportunity to utilize its inherent recuperative powers. The success of the chiropractic doctors procedures often depend on environment, underlying causes and spinal conditions. It is important to understand what to expect from chiropractic health care services.

A doctor of chiropractic conducts a clinical analysis for the express purpose of determining whether there is evidence of Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). When such vertebral subluxation complexes are found, chiropractic adjustments and ancillary procedures may be given in attempt to restore spinal integrity. It is the chiropractic premise that spinal alignment allows nerve transmission throughout the body and gives the body an opportunity to use its inherent recuperative powers. Due to complexities of nature, no doctor can promise you specific results. This depends upon the inherent recuperative powers of the body.

A patient, in coming to the doctor of chiropractic, gives the doctor permission and authority to care for the patient in accordance with the chiropractic tests, diagnosis and analysis. The chiropractic adjustment or other clinical procedure are usually beneficial and seldom cause any problem. In rare cases, underlying physical defects, deformities or pathologies may render the patient susceptible to injury. The doctor, of course, will not give a chiropractic adjustment, or health care, if he is aware that such care may be contraindicated. Again, it is the responsibility of the patient to make known or to learn through health care procedures whatever he/she is suffering from: latent pathological defects, illnesses or deformities which would otherwise not come to the attention of the doctor of chiropractic. The patient should look to the correct specialized, non- duplicating health service. The doctor of chiropractic is licensed in a special practice and is available to work with other types of providers in your health care regime.

We like to advise our patients with neck problems of the following: In recent years there have been rare incidents of injury to the vertebral artery during the course of care by medical doctors, physiotherapists and chiropractors. The risk of stroke after cervical adjustment is 0.00025%. To put this in perspective, the risk of stroke in the general population is 0.00057% and the risk of death from taking aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs is .04%. Tests will be performed on you to minimize this risk and an appropriate adjustment technique will be applied. Chiropractic care is considered to be one of the safest and most effective forms of care.

The purpose of chiropractic services is to promote natural health through the reduction of vertebral subluxation complex. Since there are so many variables, it is difficult to predict the time schedule efficacy of the chiropractic procedures. Sometimes the response is phenomenal. In most cases there is a more gradual but quite satisfactory response. Occasionally, the results are less than expected. Two or more similar conditions may respond differently to the same chiropractic care. Many medical failures find quick relief through chiropractic. In turn, conditions, which do not respond to chiropractic care, may come under control or be helped through drugs or surgery. The fact is that the science of chiropractic and medicine may never be so exact as to provide definite answers to all problems. Both have made great strides in alleviating pain and controlling disease.

Please discuss any questions or problems with the doctor before signing this statement of policy. I have read and understand the foregoing.