Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession: Authors' introduction

Looking back at the path that we have traveled provides insight into our present and gives us the wisdom to navigate our future. Although it may seem paradoxical, to move ahead, we must start by looking back.

The enigma of chiropractic has fascinated people for more than a century. This profession has gathered both fans and foes, each arguing about what they perceive chiropractic to be or should be.

From its founding and early theory development to becoming an established and recognized health profession, various external and internal forces have shaped the chiropractic profession. Legislation, culture, world events, societal values, and other health professions each have left their impressions. However, one could argue that there has been no greater course-altering force than that imposed by organized medicine, primarily through the actions of the American Medical Association (AMA), which is the largest and oldest professional health care association in the United States.

To investigate chiropractic development and its presence within health care, we examined a critical event in the profession's history: the federal antitrust lawsuit Wilk v American Medical Association (AMA).^1,2  We synthesized hundreds of historical documents and interviewed key participants (Figs. 1–4).

The result of our research is this series of papers,^3–10  which was written for people who are curious about chiropractic. Why is chiropractic the way it is? Where does the perceived tension between medicine and chiropractic come from? Was this trial necessary for chiropractic to exist as a health profession? Looking more closely at the Wilk v AMA^1,2 federal antitrust lawsuit helps to provide some of the answers.

These papers describe American mainstream health care, chiropractic, and the events leading up to the lawsuit. Included are details about a small group of chiropractors who charged the medical establishment with conspiring to monopolize health care services and restrain chiropractors from competing in delivering health care to the American public. They alleged that the AMA and its codefendants plotted to “isolate and then eliminate the chiropractic profession in the United States.”¹¹ 

The recounting of events surrounding the lawsuit provides some insights of which many people are unaware. Our goal in writing this series was to offer an objective historical narrative to further illuminate the discussion surrounding these issues. We recognize that this viewpoint comes from authors who are within the chiropractic profession. Yet we hope that this story will inspire readers from all fields to be empowered to engage in healthy dialogue and to improve collaboration among the health professions to better serve the public.

When considering the facts revealed in these papers, we urge readers to consider the context before judging any person or profession. To judge past events using today's standards takes them out of context, leading to misunderstandings. Chiropractic historian Pierre Louis Gaucher-Peslherbe warned against using contemporary views to exact criticism of those before us. He stated,

The world has changed immeasurably since this lawsuit concluded. Since that time, there has been a substantial increase in collaboration among health care professions throughout the world. If we are to move beyond previous events, we must recognize the discord, learn from past mistakes, strive to find common ground, and work together to find a path to tolerance and harmony. We should do this not only for ourselves but also for the patients and the public that we serve.

As authors, we have been heartened by the support of everyone who has taken an interest in our investigations. We hope that you will find this historical series Looking Back inspirational and informative and that it will provide a better understanding of the chiropractic that we know today.