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Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
Journal of Philosophy, Principles & Practice of Chiropractic – Dialogues ~ August 1, 2025
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Abstract
Objective: To examine the fundamental ideological and strategic conflicts between the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) and the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), particularly regarding the WFC’s alignment with global health governance bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN), and to present a case for the ICA’s dissociation from the WFC.
Background: The ICA, rooted in the Palmerian tradition, upholds chiropractic as a distinct, subluxation-centered discipline emphasizing individual autonomy and professional sovereignty. In contrast, the WFC promotes global integration, scientific consensus, and alignment with public health institutions. This divergence has created a profound conflict in philosophy, strategy, and identity.
Methods: A comparative analysis of ICA and WFC mission statements, policy documents, leadership actions, and affiliations with global entities was conducted. Special attention was given to the WFC’s formal partnership with the WHO and its adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how these relationships contrast with ICA’s values.
Results: The analysis reveals irreconcilable differences in core values: the ICA prioritizes subluxation-based care and individual health freedom, while the WFC advocates for interprofessionalism, evidence-based practice, and global standardization. The WFC’s alliances with the WHO and UN implicate it in policy frameworks that potentially erode national sovereignty and individual liberties, directly opposing ICA’s foundational tenets.
Conclusion: The ICA’s continued affiliation with the WFC constitutes a contradiction of its core principles. A call is made for ICA leadership and members to withdraw support from the WFC and instead build strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to preserve the distinct identity and philosophical integrity of the profession.
Key Words: International Chiropractors Association (ICA), World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC), Vertebral Subluxation, Professional Sovereignty, Global Health Governance, World Health Organization (WHO), Individual Health Freedom
