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Stroke Victims Push For Chiropractor Bill

Bill Would Have Patients Sign Consent Forms

POSTED: 10:05 pm EDT March 12, 2009

Two women who claim they suffered a stroke at the hands of their chiropractors are now pushing for change.

The pair wants lawmakers to require chiropractors to have patients sign an informed consent about the possible danger.

Chiropractors are opposing the bill and told Eyewitness News that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke after a visit with a chiropractor than after seeing their family doctor. They did admit that having a stroke is a possibility.

The group said because of this, people deserve to know.

Britt Harwe and Janet Levy are on a mission to talk to as many lawmakers as possible.

"If there is a risk at all, no matter how small, you should be told of it," Harwe said.

Harwe suffered a stroke after having an adjustment for a stiff neck from a chiropractor.

"Being told at 26 you may never walk or talk again or you should consider nursing homes,' she said.

The stroke collapsed Harwe's esophagus, preventing her from being able to eat. For 16 years she has fed herself through a tube in her stomach.

Levy also suffered a stroke.

"In the 60s they were saying it's a rare occurrence this happens, there were under 1,000 chiropractors. Now there are 75,000 in the country and they are still saying it's rare," she said.

Last year the pair got lawmakers to put chiropractors on a registry like physicians so patients could see if there are any complaints. Now the pair wants informed consent so that patients know what can happen with a neck adjustment.

"The research shows there is no more risk of stroke in the chiropractic population than in the general population," said Matt Pagano of the Connecticut Chiropractic Associatin.

Rare or not, Harwe said she's proof it can happen.

"Give a person a piece of paper saying these are some things that can happen, including stroke, what they symptoms are and get medical attention," she said.

A stroke can occur when an artery is crushed or torn, blocking circulation to the brain. Chiropractors say the bill is unfair because some patients may have pre-existing conditions.


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