British Columbia Chiropractic Association #125 37?51 Shell Road, Richmond, BC VEX 2W2 May 25, 2018 Hon. Adrian Dix Minister of Health PO BOX 9050, STN PROV GOVT. Victoria BC V8W9E2 Dear Minister Dix, On behalf of the members of the British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA), I am writing to inform you that the BCCA is deeply concerned about the recent public comments made by a small group of chiropractors, who are not association members, and their personal views regarding anti-vaccinations. These individuals are not part of the evidenced based, patient centred landscape here in BC. These statements are unacceptable to the BCCA and we do not support these views in any way. In fact, we are unequivocal in our support for our national Vaccination and Immunization Policy that has been in place, since 1991. More importantly, vaccination and immunization are NOT part of the Chiropractic scope of practice and are not up for debate. Comments that present themselves as half-truths not based on a scientific background have no place in our profession. The British Columbia Chiropractic Association, along with our partners at the Canadian Chiropractic Association, stands up for the integrity and credibility of the chiropractic profession. We take our duty to monitor and regulate our profession very seriously, and when issues arise we are quick to act. Therefore, you can understand our frustration when the comments and actions of Dr. Avtar Jassal, the Vice Chair on the College of Chiropractors of BC (CCBC) regulatory board was in the media making outlandish claims about vaccination again. Dr. Jassal?s claims have brought strong negative response all throughout Canada and have significantly impacted the public trust in Chiropractic as well as stakeholder trust in our ability to function as a self?regulated profession. However, this was not the first time the actions of Dr. Avtar Jassal was been brought to your Ministry?s attention. In fact, over the last two years, the BCCA reported our concerns to your ministry about this individual and two others that currently sit on the College Board. These views do not represent modern health care or Chiropractic care in British Columbia and our reputation as a profession and an association is threatened when we do not act. Page 1 of 3 HTH-2018-84042 880 of 1005 British Columbia Chiropractic Association #125 3751 Shell Road, Richmond, BC VEX 2W2 As a result ofthese views and claims, the BCCA repeatedly made complaints to the College of Chiropractors who regulate our profession. We have wanted the College and the Ministry to immediately address the actions of these College Board members. Unfortunately, to date, we have been unsuccessful in moving these groups to effectively address the actions of these individuals and remove them from the board in a timely manner. For example: I In November 2015, we first contacted the Ministry of Health, office of Professional Regulation regarding problematic actions of our College Board. At that time, we reported that three CCBC board members, one who was the Vice Chair (Jassal) and a member ofthe Inquiry Committee, were pursuing a private non-evidenced based agenda that we believed could negatively impact the profession and public safety. a In April 2017, it was brought to our attention that these 3 CCBC board members, were publicly making outlandish claims, regarding Vaccination and treatment of children that were clearly beyond our scope of practice. We believed those claims were dangerous to the public and we brought the evidence to the attention ofthe College of Chiropractors of BC Registrar. We were advised the College would not accept our complaint and that nothing would be done. 0 In May 2017, we escalated our complaint, to the Executive Director of Professional Regulation and Oversight in the Ministry of Health, and were advised that we should reach out to the Registrar again; as he was not prepared to directly intervene at that time. We met again with the CCBC Registrar and again left without any resolution, and we were advised that the CCBC would not act. I re-contacted the Executive Director of Professional Regulation and Oversight to express my frustration with this process and its outcomes. I did not hear back until August at which time he advised he had contacted the College and had been told they were working on it. However, the anti-vaccination and dangerous child hood treatment advice continued. In fact, it has taken another nine months, until the CBC brought forward the entirely unacceptable actions of Dr. Avtar Jassal, just one of the three Chiropractors involved, to the public and subsequently your attention, for any action. Over the last few weeks, we have had to defend the Chiropractic Profession and regulation in our province repetitively. It is difficult to see so much damage done to our profession and to the public trust in our profession. Page 2 of 3 881 of 1005 British Columbia Chiropractic Association #125 3751 Shell Road, Richmond, BC VEX 2W2 Nonetheless, we want to thank the Ministry of Health for acting on this matter. However, the BCCA is still very concerned about the two other individuals who are still sitting on the CCBC regulatory board. Their unacceptable views and behavior continue, despite the fact that complaints have been brought forward to the CCBC, and despite the removal of their colleague Dr. Jassal. The BCCA is committed to continuing to work with your ministry to provide more evidence informed treatment and patient-centered care and are also committed to continue to work alongside the other regulated health care professions here in BC. As an Association and as a profession we believe strongly in our duty and obligation to self- regulate. We have done everything within our mandate as a non-regulatory association to ensure the safety of the public in this matter. Consistently we have stood up for appropriate evidence based health care in our province. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your ministry for the betterment of the chiropractic profession. Dr. Jay Robinson British Columbia Chiropractic Association President Page 3 of 3 882 of 1005