BC Health Minister Says No Wiggle Room for Chiropractors After Voting Against Vaccine Mandate | The Canadian News

Chiropractors in British Columbia have found themselves at the center of the debate over vaccine mandates, following an eyebrow-raising vote earlier this week.

At Wednesday’s annual general meeting of the BC College of Chiropractors, the body that regulates and authorizes the profession, a resolution opposing provincial vaccine mandates won the support of 78 percent of delegates.

The non-binding resolution, filed by Kelowna chiropractor Mark Foullong, called on the university to “take a stand to protect the right to freedom of medical choice” and “maintain the right to choose medical privacy … free from coercion. , command manipulation “. “

While BC has yet to require vaccinations for chiropractors, that is expected to change soon.

The province has already established COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for doctors, nurses, and long-term care personnel, and provincial health official Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued an order that will eventually extend that requirement. to all other authorized health services. care professionals.

Chiropractors who oppose a vaccine mandate have gained international attention, including support from a US group called the Chiropractic Defense Council, which says it hired an attorney to file a “notice of liability” against the British Columbia government about the affair.

Trend stories

• 

  Travel Restrictions and Omicron: What’s Changing in Canada, USA?

• 

  Runaway Parents of Michigan School Shooting Suspect Arrested in Detroit Basement

On Friday, British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix said comments at the meeting questioning the science behind vaccines were “disappointing and wrong,” adding that there would be no leeway for chiropractors.

“There is no doubt that the resolution reflects the views of the chiropractors who attended the meeting; I don’t think they reflect anything like most chiropractors, ”Dix said.

“They have been a consistent and passionate supporter of immunization and an important part as a community of health professionals in our efforts to immunize people. There are some people who do not agree and their points of view were expressed in that meeting. “

Since then, the college board has distanced itself from the motion.

In a statement, he said he was concerned about the “inaccurate and misleading information on COVID-19 vaccination” presented at the meeting, adding that, as licensed healthcare professionals, the professional and ethical responsibility of chiropractors is to provide information. that is factual, supported by science and directly related to your scope of practice. “

“The prevention and treatment of infectious diseases is not within the scope of chiropractic practice and therefore chiropractors should not provide any professional advice or advice to patients regarding vaccination issues,” the university said.

While it’s unclear when the province will extend its mandate for vaccinations for healthcare workers to chiropractors, once it does, doctors who refuse vaccination could face license suspension.

See link »