[Accusations of malpractice in chirotherapeutic treatment].

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the incidence of adverse effects after chiropractic manipulation. Over representation of severe and under representation of less severe complications has to be assumed.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 57 expert opinions from the malpractice advisory board of the North Rhine General Medical Council (Nordrheinische Arztekammer), as well as judgments from German courts since 1949, were analyzed.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSIONS

A total of 16 of 57 cases of chiropractic manipulation (since 1975) were attested as malpractice by expert opinion, seven of which had significant negative consequences. In nine cases, the judgments of German courts refer to manual therapy. Of these, five deal with informed consent. Observance of the "Bingen Declaration" would have avoided all cases of malpractice found by the advisory board over 29 years.