Steps to obtain Legal Status.
The following excerpts were taken during the WFC World Congress, in Auckland, New Zealand, May 1999:
A) For a small country (by Dr. E. Papadophilus, Cypress)
- Find out how many members are required to establish a legal association. Legal Advisor required.
- If you do not have enough DCs, go ahead and organize “as if” anyway. You may have to simply function as a club with same requirements at first.
- Print letterhead.
- Meet with Minister of Health.
- Submit documentation, usually to the Medical Director or Deputy Minister (also and MD).
- Get letters from dozens of countries’ Minister of Health where Chiropractic is established.
- Contact other country National Associations for copies of established definitions and scope of practice.
- Testify to the legislative committee and voting bodies.
B) For large countries (by Dr. Michael Pedigo, ACA-USA)
- Learn how the Political System works in your country.
(from lobbyists and elected representatives) - Identify the decision makers.
- Make friends with the decision makers.
- Know “how things work” and how to put timely pressure on the decision makers.
- Have lobbyists and legislative consultants.
- Play the “grass roots” cards, when applicable (Patients)
(Patient influence on voting officials.) - Be prepared to put money into the effort.
(phone, letters, political contributions, time) - Persistence pays off (change tactics as needed, but … )
- Be polite
- Be firm
- Be relentless
- Be Prepared, always.
- Be united as one Professional Association.
C) Miscellaneous comments:
– by Dr. Tony Metcalfe, UK
Country officials may feel that the chiropractic profession requires to apply the following:
- MATURE: demonstrate professional and personal maturity.
- 1 BODY: only one representative body; no dissention.
- UNIFIED EDUCATION: qualifications of a DC are uniform.
- PROVEN EFFICACY: documented research; some in your country.
– by Dr. Enrique Canut, Mexico
- Personal prowess makes a difference.
- Be diligent but DO NOT compromise.