ARTICLE
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (TAAOM) v. Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners (TBCE) trial before the District Court of Travis County in Austin. As an intervenor in the case, the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA) was there defending the right of Texas chiropractors to perform chiropractic acupuncture. This was the latest attempt by a group to reduce our chiropractic scope. As we suspected, TAAOM expanded their case beyond chiropractic acupuncture to include dry needling. Despite being completely unaware of chiropractors’ education and training, TAAOM’s witnesses contended that chiropractors were ill-equipped to perform acupuncture and, even worse, were a safety risk to the public. TAAOM also spent considerable time demonstrating why they believe an acupuncture needle is incisive, a reason to completely strike acupuncture from TBCE’s rules. As a spectator, I got a front-row view of the trial. Karen Watkins of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, who represented TBCE, made some powerful arguments as to why chiropractic acupuncture should be allowed in Texas. Meanwhile, Matt Wood, TCA’s attorney, was outstanding, representing TCA members and all Texas chiropractors very well. He highlighted the value that chiropractors bring to health care in the Lone Star State, with acupuncture being a crucial tool to help patients safely manage pain rather than turn to opioids. This is especially true in underserved rural areas where chiropractors might be the only providers. I also want to thank our chiropractic witnesses in the trial – TBCE President Mark Bronson, DC Dallas- based chiropractor and acupuncturist Mark Hanson, DC; and Kenneth Thomas, DC, of Parker University. These men were poised, eloquent, and did a magnificent job representing the hundreds of Texas chiropractors with an acupuncture permit. They also are all TCA members. Whether you do acupuncture or not, you owe them a great deal of gratitude for taking time away from their businesses to speak for you. Kudos to Tom Hollingsworth, DC, who chairs the TCA Legal Affairs & Litigation Committee, and all the DCs who attended the trial. We appreciate your service and dedication! Sometimes, I am asked, “What does TCA do for me?” It is clearer than ever the value that TCA brings. While TBCE regulates chiropractic in Texas, TCA is the sole advocate for the profession. Whether it is representing you at the State Capitol during a legislative session or providing legal defense when the profession is under attack, TCA is ALWAYS there for you. TCA is “THE Voice of Texas Chiropractors,” and we are YOUR community. It is such an honor to be part of an organization that does so much for the chiropractic profession. Now it’s your turn to do your part. If you’re not a TCA member, join today! And please contribute to the Chiropractic Development Initiative (CDI) through our #movetheneedle campaign. It may take weeks, even months for a verdict in TAAOM v. TBCE. Stay tuned for updates from TCA! I also want to invite you to get more involved. In the coming months, we have plenty of activities, including our TCA District 11 Tour of Texas/Bergquist End of Summer Bash on Saturday, September 23, in Houston and our TCA Chiro Classic Golf Tournament presented by Curis Functional Health on Saturday, November 4, in Dallas. Plus, we have plenty of district events on the TCA calendar. It is a privilege to lead this organization and be part of the finest profession in the world. Sincerely, Ryan Bailey, DC TCA President