Chiropractors have been put back in their box as the country's health ministers say no to cracking babies' backs.
After a demand from the nation’s health ministers the Chiropractic Board of Australia has reinstated an “interim” ban on spinal manipulation of children under two of age.
Last week it became evident that the Board had quietly lifted the four-year ban on the procedure via an update statement on paediatric care released in November 2023.
The backflip came after the Chiropractic Board of Australia placed an interim ban on the procedure in 2019 following the Council of Australian Governments Health Council’s investigation of community concerns.
Federal health minister Mark Butler was “quite shocked” by the news and immediately placed the topic on the agenda of last Friday’s national Health Ministers’ Meeting in Adelaide.
In a communique released late on Friday the meeting said:
“Health Ministers are concerned the Chiropractic Board of Australia has lifted its interim ban on the spinal manipulation of children under two years of age.
The chair of the Health Ministers meeting will ask the National Chiropractic Board to immediately reinstate the interim ban on spinal manipulation of children under the age of two.
“On behalf of Health Ministers, the Chair of the Health Ministers’ Meeting will write to the Chiropractic Board requesting it to immediately reinstate the interim ban and provide urgent advice on its recent decision to allow a resumption of this practice.”
The CBA met earlier this week and issued the following statement:
“The Chiropractic Board of Australia has reinstated an interim policy on the spinal manipulation of children under two years of age, pending further consultation with Australia’s health ministers.
“This follows a request from the Health Ministers Meeting on 14 June.”
Board Chair Dr Wayne Minter AM said the Board expected chiropractors to comply with the interim policy, which advises chiropractors to not use spinal manipulation to treat children under two years of age, “until further consultation with Health Ministers can allow for developing a final position”.
“While there has been no evidence of serious harm to infants from chiropractic care in Australia, the Board’s role is first and foremost to protect the public,” said Dr Minter.
“We look forward to working with ministers to develop an evidence-based final policy on paediatric care that balances the paramount need to protect patients, with the right for parents and other patients to have a say in the care they choose.”
The Board said it would consider its obligations under the National Law and any further decisions by Health Ministers in developing a final position.
