Chiropractic neck procedures cause strokes, say survivors

Some Manitoba stroke survivors say they believe chiropractic neck manipulation caused their strokes, so they are calling on the provincial government to stop the procedure.

Members of Winnipeg Chiropractic Stroke Survivors will meet with Health Minister Theresa Oswald this morning to make their case for a ban on high neck chiropractic manipulation.

"Our ultimate goal is to have neck manipulation stopped," Pat Chevrier, a member of the group, told CBC News.

"This can be accomplished through legislating an outright ban, the preferable method."

The group claims that repeated chiropractic neck manipulation causes arterial damage and stroke.

Chevrier said her 45-year-old son has had to give up his career after he had a stroke six years ago, and he suffers from permanent neurological damage.

She said her son had no idea that the neck manipulation that his chiropractor performed on him came with risks.

"This is going to happen again to other unsuspecting people if they are not warned that neck manipulation poses a very significant material risk," she said.

The group not only wants neck manipulation to be banned, but it also wants the province to de-insure chiropractic services and hold a public inquiry on the effects of high neck manipulation on patients.

The Manitoba Chiropractors Association declined to comment on Wednesday.