Chiropractor reform push amid baby back-cracking video outrage

New laws regulating chiropractors manipulating the spines of infants are being pursued by the Andrews Government amid outrage over the latest controversial baby back-cracking video.

New laws regulating chiropractors manipulating the spines of infants are being pursued by the Andrews Government amid outrage over the latest controversial baby back-cracking video.

The action comes as the Herald Sun can reveal dozens of chiropractors are secretly discussing their own infant practises as they stand by Cranbourne colleague Dr Andrew Arnold, as he faces an investigation for posting a video of his consultation with a two-week-old boy.

Dr Arnold on Thursday entered into a legally-binding agreement with health authorities not to undertake any chiropractic treatment on children younger than 12 years until their investigation has concluded.

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Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has scheduled a meeting with the Chiropractic Board of Australia next week to demand it stamps out baby chiropractic treatments.

If the Board or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency refuse to crack down the Andrews Government intends to take matters out of their hands by presenting proposed national legislation at the next COAG meeting asking state and federal governments to outlaw the practise.

“I’m pleased that AHPRA has taken swift action against this individual, but I also want to see this practise stamped out on a wider scale,” Ms Mikakos said.

“If the national regulators don’t take action, then I’ll be urging my colleagues at the next COAG health council to push for national laws that outlaw this practise.”

Andrew Arnold of Cranbourne Family Chiropractic is at the centre of the latest baby back-­cracking controversy.

An AHPRA spokeswoman confirmed Dr Arnold had agreed to limit his practise while investigations continue, but did not comment further.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, a video posted on Cranbourne Family Chiropractic’s Facebook page showed Dr Arnold treating a “two-week” old infant, including holding it upside down, tapping it on the head and using a spring-loaded device on its spine.

Dr Arnold has posted several more videos online outlining his treatment of babies from their first day of life, claiming chiropractors can prevent them needing medicine from medical doctors in later life.

“We strongly encourage babies, toddlers and children to be adjusted and checked all the way through — perfectly safe,” Dr Arnold said in one YouTube clip.

“The kids that get adjusted and checked regularly are often the healthiest kids, the ones that maybe see the GP less, are less unwell, need less medications from the doctor for example, just for getting healthy chiropractic adjustment.”

Chiropractor Dr Andrew Arnold uses a tool he describes as an “activator” — a spring-loaded chiropractic thumping device — on its most gentle setting during the filmed consultation.

Chiropractor Dr Andrew Arnold briefly raises the infant by the ankles while checking its neck, before asking another person off camera to help cradle its neck as he lays it back on the examination bed.

Due to the stress placed on a baby during childbirth, Dr Arnold also recommends on Youtube that parents allow chiropractors to treat their newborns before they are even sent home from hospital.

“With babies, for example — and this applies to a newborn baby — there are many instances where I have seen mums throughout their pregnancy and then they invite me to come into the hospital and adjust their newborn baby,” he said.

“And this is something we highly, highly recommend.”

Dr Arnold, who says he has more than 20 years’ experience as a naturopath, remedial massage therapist and chiropractor, said non-force techniques such as gentle touch and tapping can stimulate reflexes that relate to the bowel and help boost a child’s own immune defences naturally.

“There are numerous reasons why parents bring their kids in. With babies, things like colic and irritability, not feeding one side, nappies being quite irregular, maybe some skin rashes, maybe coughs and colds, things like this,” he said.

“We don’t suggest you keep your GP out of the picture, by the way, we simply recommend that you look at a more non-suppressive approach, a natural approach.

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