article archive
July 2006
DCs vote 'no confidence' in UK board
A survey of doctors in Britain showed widespread dissatisfaction
with the General Chiropractic Council, the UK‑wide
statutory body with regulatory powers established by the
Chiropractors Act of 1994.
The survey, conduced by Electoral
Reform Services (ERS), was commissioned by London‑based Bankside Law Ltd.
on behalf of a "pan association group of chiropractors." The
law firm gave no further information on the identity of the
group but noted that it had received clearance from the office
of the Information Commissioner, who is responsible for policing
the Data Protection Act. ERS is widely acknowledged as the
UK's leading expert in the field of election administration
and associated services, including market research and public
opinion polling.
Questionnaires were sent to 1,900 licensed
doctors of chiropractic in the UK and each questionnaire
was uniquely numbered to prevent multiple participation.
Steps were taken to ensure complete anonymity.
Of the 968 completed
questionnaires received by ERS, 71.1% stated they did not have
confidence in the GCC to regulate the chiropractic profession.
Only 31.8% said they agreed that the actions of the FCC in
disciplining chiropractors have improved the protection of
the public.
Among the other findings of the survey:
*** 83.8% felt the GCC
has done little to promote the profession
*** Only 8.1% said
the profession has united together under the GCC
*** More than
three‑quarters of the respondents (77.5%)
did not think the diversity of the profession has been protected
and encouraged under the GCC
*** 77.1% agreed that the GCC,
like the General Osteopathic Council, should appoint external,
impartial educationalists to oversee the accreditation of the
chiropractic colleges
*** 91.3% said professional conduct cases
should be heard within six months of the charge being passed
to the Professional Conduct Committee
*** 72.4% stated that
they agreed with the statement "The
Council of the GCC is influenced by inter‑association
polities"
*** 73.9% disagreed with the statement "The
workings of the GCC are open and transparent"
Results of
the survey were made available to all four UK chiropractic
organizations.