Colorado Springs, CO, The Colorado Medical Society filed a lawsuit Monday to halt a rule that would allow chiropractors to administer drugs.
The rule was created by the Chiropractic Board of Examiners and would authorize practitioners to administer drugs topically, orally, by inhalation and injection, after completing 24 hours of study and a certification exam. The board certifies doctors of chiropractic and changed the rule in November. Without action, it will go into effect Jan. 14.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said the changes “exceed the legislative scope of the authority” granted to the board of examiners. And records at the AG’s office show most chiropractors oppose the rule.
“The enactment of the rule exceeds the authority of chiropractors as defined in the Chiropractors Practice Act and intrudes on the practice of medicine by professionals licensed under the Medical Practice Act,” said Susan Koontz, general counsel and senior director of government relations for the Colorado Medical Society.
“Authorizing chiropractors to administer drugs and perform injections threatens irreparable injury to the public welfare and the safety of the patients the members of the Colorado Medical Society serve to protect,” said John Conklin of Martin Conklin, counsel for CMS.
Also opposing the new rule in the lawsuit: Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine, Weld County Medical Society, an attorney for several state medical societies, including Creek Valley Medical Society, Aurora-Adams County Medical Society, Denver Medical Society, Mesa County Medical Society, Colorado Radiological Society, Colorado Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians, Colorado Orthopaedic Society, Colorado Society of Anesthesiologists, Boulder County Medical Society and Larimer County Medical Society.
Source: Colorado Springs Business Journal