Thread by @ryarmst

Regardless of her mental capacity, Dena Churchill is not an outlier; there are chiropractors across Canada who share the same misinformation and put the public at risk. In fact, Dena Churchill wrote a book chapter for the current Vice President of Ontario's regulatory College. 1/

https://twitter.com/drcadesky/status/1102327129667260418

That's right, Liz Anderson-Peacock (@drlizap) - the current Vice President of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario - sells a book with a chapter contributed by prolific anti-vax chiropractor Dena Churchill who discusses the chiropractic "Universal Intelligence" woo. 2/

Anderson-Peacock has also appeared on Churchill's podcast (player.fm/series/dr-dena…) and the more scandalously titled "Healthy Alternatives to Vaccinations" podcast (listennotes.com/podcasts/healt…). Great stuff to see from someone in charge of regulation in Ontario 🤦‍♂️. 3/

So what's in this book? Complete nuttery, as you would imagine. Anderson-Peacock recounts how an early experience with a chiropractor convinced her that her allergies were related to a spinal injury that occurred during a childhood car accident 🤦‍♂️. 4/

These cult-like beliefs stem from chiropractic's past. According to Liz: "The organizing Principles of D.D. Palmer, B.J. Palmer, and Stephenson lay our ground. Fundamentally, we are based on a Vitalistic model". Good thing she works as a regulator 🤦‍♂️. 5/

As you'd imagine, the book contains all manner of misinformation regarding vaccinations - the sworn enemy of vitalistic chiropractors. No surprise here. Liz has posted vaccine misinformation online in the past and even evidently believes the discredited autism link 🤦‍♂️. 6/

Speaking of reasons why this woman should play no role as a health practitioner let alone a regulator of a profession, she is a member of the ICPA - a chiropractic organization that is anti-vax and pro infant manipulation 🤦‍♂️. 7/

icpa4kids.org/index.php?opti…

Anderson-Peacock has also published remarkably bad science, inferring from case studies that treating non-existent "Vertebral Subluxations" can impact infertility (pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ad35/39aae6e4f…) and headaches in children (icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-R…) 🤦‍♂️. 8/

Hold on tight, because it gets worse. Liz makes the case for chiropractic infant spinal manipulation by invoking "birth trauma" and how a dubious exploratory study relates it to suicide. Great job. Good promotion 🤦‍♂️😡. 9/

Study: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.111…

Now hold on tighter, because this is where the story takes a real twisted and unfortunate turn. I am often asked: "Do vitalistic chiropractors really believe their nonsense?" The answer is unequivocally yes - even to their own detriment. 10/

Almost a decade ago, Liz was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her right foot. A Mt. Sinai specialist recommended removal of her foot. She declined and instead "chose what was consistent with her beliefs and with what resonated with her." 11/

See: simcoe.com/community-stor…

Years later, she required amputation below the knee - a likely more aggressive treatment for delaying medical care. Of course, it is very regrettable that this occurred at all and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. 12/

See: youtube.com/user/bestversi…

However, it is worth bringing up because Liz herself used this story to promote her practice and her pseudoscientific book. Also - while we are here - shame on @SimcoeNews for given a platform to misinformation and enabling these harmful beliefs 😡. 13/

So here we are. Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock is both a registered chiropractor permitted to use the title "Doctor" and she is the Vice President of the regulatory agency mandated to protect the public: The College of Chiropractors of Ontario. Yet, we are not protected. 14/

There is, however, good news. There is a growing contingent of chiropractors in Canada who are largely evidence-based and have shed the vitalistic dogma of chiropractic's past. Liz is up for re-election and appears to be running against such a candidate. 15/

As described by @wmacphail and @pbenedetti, the chiropractic profession is at a crossroads. The responsible practitioners can either step up and take over their profession, or there needs to be serious government intervention to protect Canadians. 16/

theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…

The next moves made by the regulatory agency (as well as the associations who seemingly keep denying that there is a serious problem - shame on you @ONChiroAssoc and @CanChiroAssoc) will likely determine the future of the profession. Health critics should all keep a keen eye. FIN

Paging @CaulfieldTim @HealthWatch123 @TerryPolevoy @VikCBC @MichaelTGorman @hamsportschiro @MarcBronsonDC @crackedscience @carlyweeks @bethanylindsay