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.