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"E-FACTS" REPORT FROM THE ICA PRESIDENT D.D. Humber, DC, FICA
TWO FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS HAVE CLOSED THE DOOR ON RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS TO OTHERWISE MANDATORY VACCINATION LAWS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN ARKANSAS. On July 25th, the federal District Court for the Western District of Arkansas found that state's religious exemption for immunizations law unconstitutional based on the language of the state statute that acknowledged only "recognized religions", thus denying "equal protection" to all religions. In a similar case, Arkansas Eastern District Federal Judge Susan Webber Wright ruled in mid-August that the Arkansas immunization statute was in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution because it favored "recognized" religions. Both cases are being appealed, and various remedies are being sought to continue the long-standing exemption for those whose beliefs prevent them from immunizing their children. Unless corrective action is obtained from another federal court, however, the state school system will have authority to exclude any unvaccinated children from public schools, forcing parents of unvaccinated children to either give their children the required shots or to home-school their children until a remedy can be found, either through the courts or through a new statute passed by the Arkansas Legislature. The International Chiropractors Association has offered its help to the Arkansas Chiropractic Association and those families who are facing this crisis. ICA has long held as a matter of official policy that all laws governing mandated medication or vaccination requirements must offer a means for those who object for reasons of conscience, philosophy or religion, to obtain an exemption from mandatory medication. ICA's formal policy statement on this vital public health issue reads as follows:
IMMUNIZATION AND VACCINATION
The International Chiropractors Association recognizes that the use of vaccines is not without risk. The ICA supports each individual's right to select his or her own health care and to be made aware of the possible adverse effects of vaccines upon a human body. In accordance with such principles and based upon the individual's right to freedom of choice, the ICA is opposed to compulsory programs which infringe upon such rights. The International Chiropractors Association is supportive of a conscience clause or waiver in compulsory vaccination laws, providing an elective course of action for all regarding immunization, thereby allowing patients freedom of choice in matters affecting their bodies and health.
For more information on this developing story, watch ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org, The National Vaccine Information Center website at www.909shot.com, or www.vaccinelaw.com.
ICA WORKERS WERE HONORED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY AT A SPECIAL FUNCTION ON AUGUST 13th FOR THEIR SERVICE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 9/11 PENTAGON DISASTER. The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Vernon Clark, Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England and a host of other Department of Defense leaders hosted a special thank you event at the Washington Navy Yard to acknowledge those service agencies that contributed to the rescue and recovery efforts after the 9/11 tragedy in Washington. Dr. Coralee Van Egmond, who helped coordinate ICA's chiropractic response, volunteer Dr. Steve Trauben of Alexandria, Virginia and ICA's Executive Director Mr. Ron Hendrickson were among the Navy's special guests. Admiral Clark told the assembled guests, "Service is an element that had faded somewhat from our national consciousness prior to the tragic events of September 11th, but the rebirth of this important value was certainly one of the most positive results of these tragedies." ICA's chiropractic relief teams cared for nearly 4,000 patients at Camp Unity, the relief and recovery site at the Pentagon in the aftermath of the September 11th attack.
TODAY'S EDITION OF THE WASHINGTON POST CARRIES AN INSIGHTFUL ARTICLE ON THE STATE OF ORTHODOX VERSUS ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S. Authored by James S. Gordon, MD, former chair of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, now director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, the article entitled "Tired of Killer Cures," raises important questions and concerns about the direction of current public health and health funding policies and directly acknowledges and confronts the need to change a health system in which, Dr. Gordon writes, "... the treatments we routinely provide are, even when appropriately used, the fourth leading cause of death in our country."
Echoing a growing chorus of concern from all corners of health care about a need to re-evaluate all health care options, Dr. Gordon further says: The signs and symptoms of crisis in our health care system have become front-page news in recent weeks. Treatments that were routine -- widely accepted by physicians and embraced by the public -- have proven inappropriate, possibly dangerous and wasteful.
ICA applauds and commends Dr. Gordon on his courage and his candor. The full text of this compelling, must-read article is available on the Internet at: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37307-2002Aug19.html.
ICA has copied key Members of Congress with this important article as we work to educate legislators on the urgent need to expand and enhance access to chiropractic services through Medicare and other federal programs. ICA continues to promote H.R. 2284, legislation that would expand the list of chiropractic services covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Information on this important chiropractic initiative, including copies of the bill and model letters, is available, on ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER AND CHIROPRACTIC AND FITNESS LEADERS ONCE AGAIN TO HEADLINE ICA NATURAL FITNESS SYMPOSIUM: ICA's 11th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness with Arnold Schwarzenegger will feature the same kind of exciting, star-packed, innovative program in conjunction with Arnold's Fitness Weekend, that has made it the highlight of the chiropractic calendar for the past decade. Mark your calendars for February 27 and March 1-2, 2003 and come to Columbus, Ohio for a fantastic weekend of fitness stars, champion athletes, and innovative, practical chiropractic continuing education!
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness weekend, with the world's largest Fitness Expo filled with leading sports, nutrition, fitness equipment and publication services as well as its world-class athletic competitions, has grown to match the Summer Olympic Games in size and diversity of sports. With events including the Arnold Schwarzenegger Bodybuilding Classic and Martial Arts, Gymnastic and Powerlifting Competitions--and the ICA's Fitness Symposium, the weekend is a must for all sports and fitness oriented DCs and students. Participants in the Symposium continuing education program can also register to attend parts of the Arnold Fitness Weekend and Competitions, either through a full VIP reserved-seat package to all Arnold Fitness Weekend competitions or as separately purchased event registrations. And, as with every year, the world's most famous chiropractic patient, global superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger, will be the featured speaker at ICA's Symposium on Natural Fitness, and pose with each Symposium registrant for a studio-style portrait photo. A vigorous advocate of chiropractic care for people of all ages, Mr. Schwarzenegger will speak to the Symposium attendees about his personal experience with chiropractic, crediting the care he received throughout the years for his success in bodybuilding and for his ability to maintain such a rigorous filmmaking schedule.
This year's continuing education programs are co-sponsored by Cleveland Chiropractic College and feature leaders in the world of fitness who are dedicated to exercise and athletic training in the context of chiropractic care. Practical programs by leaders in fitness like champion bodybuilder, chiropractic patient and performance nutrition consultant Lee LaBrada will be joined by a presentation by NFL team chiropractor for the Superbowl-winning Baltimore Ravens, Dr. Doug Miller, and other star faculty. "Each year the ICA's Symposium is a special, sold-out event, and we are making this year's program more informative and exciting than ever," says Fitness Council Gerald R. Mattia, D.C. "This Symposium weekend is dedicated to bringing doctors updated and practical information from leaders in fitness, exercise, and sports with focus on chiropractic practice for doctors and patients." Visit ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org for updates on the faculty, featured program offerings, and registration for the 2003 ICA Symposium on Natural Fitness with Arnold Schwarzenegger!
DATES TO REMEMBER: "Chiropractic, Pediatrics and Pregnancy", with Pediatrics Diplomate Dr. Lora Tanis, September 7-8th, Cleveland, Ohio; Chiropractic Without A Doubt with Dr. Steve Hoffman and Dr. Robert Braile, September 21-22nd, Cincinnati, Ohio and November 2-3rd, Richmond, Virginia; New Era in Whiplash & Spinal Trauma with Dr. Dan Murphy, September 28-29th, Phoenix, Arizona; Annual Conference on Chiropractic Pediatrics, New Orleans, LA, November 22-24th, 2002; Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma (CCST) program kickoff, January 18-19th, 2003, with Dr. Dan Murphy, Las Vegas, Nevada.
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