http://www.chirowatch.com/Chiro-anti-vax/ptw001101szalay.html
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Anti-vaccine chiropractor featured in
Peterborough newspaper
Would you
agree with these statements?
Did one of Peterborough's newest
chiropractors know that it's against the official policies and guidelines of
the College of Chiropractors of Ontario to advocate publicly against
immunization? Apparently the staff of Peterborough
This Week trusted the knowledge of their regular Health Matters
columnist, Colette Szalay to know those guidelines.. Unfortunately for her, and for many other
licensed chiropractors in this Province, they either don't know, or have
ignored those CCO codes. How many hundreds of recent graduates from CMCC
(Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College) know those guidelines? Szalay
graduated in May 1997. What qualifications does she have to
comment on immunzations or public health issues? Has she ever delivered a baby, or cared for
newborns or infants who had critical medical conditions caused by infections
like measles, rubella, polio, meningitis? It's certain that she didn't learn
about pediatric infectious disease in that clinical setting. CMCC has no affiliation with the Hospital
for Sick Children, and no student has ever served as an intern or resident or
maybe even an observer on labour and delivery at any hospital. What's really quite curious is the fact
that the leaders of CMCC swear that they do not teach their students any
anti-vaccine rhetoric. Yet, their bookstore sells books full of anti-vaccine
propoganda. Do these folks learn this from other chiropractors at weekend
meetings at the Novatel Hotel near the airport, or what? CMCC is bidding for a birth at York
University, and they hope to convince the Senate at York that their graduates
are science based, that they are taught to evaluate the merits of research,
statistics, and of course the fundamentals of chiropractic. Unfortunately, many of their leaders are
hellbent on extolling the virtues of chiropractic philosophy at
international meetings and on educational cruises, than they are at teaching
science. If graduates of chiropractic colleges in
Canada continue to swim in the polluted waters of anti-vaccine sharks, the
public will never be able to safely swim in the murky waters of a publicly
funded chiropractic dream-home at York. The sad story of anti-vaccine chiropractors
like Szalay, is that they are able to avoid any disciplinary actions because
of their public pronouncements, no matter how wrong, and no matter how often
they repeat them. Readers or listeners to anti-vax
chiropractors will only remember their points of view because they are good
sales people. They're trained in the manly or womenly art of conversion. They
create a cult of true believers, because they have convinced themselves that
a poorly documented book written by a woman nearly 7 years ago is the BIBLE. Only
this book has the answers, only this woman is a True Believer. It's a
religious conviction based on pseudoscience that borders on criminal intent. It appears that Szalay has carved out a
niche in the Peterborough community with her monthly Health Matters
column for the last two years. According to my sources, she has never written
an anti-vaccine column before. So, why did she decide to take it upon herself
to continue to spread lies and rumour about vaccines and immunization
programs? That's what the regulators and the
community of Peterborough should be asking themselves. Szalay ends her piece by saying to the
community that she wants to educate them. In fact, she needs to educate
herself first, not at the expense of the community. As a provider of health information, she
has served the wacko views of anti-vax writers, supported groups and
associations that basically want to totally dismantle public health efforts
that have saved millions of lives. As a licensed health care professional,
she has failed to uphold the standards of health providers in this community.
She may hnow that she has a whole bunch of anti-vaccine "friends"
or sympathizers at a major chiropractic clinic in the area, who are all
members of a cult-like anti-vaccine organization known as the CAC,
Chiropractic Awareness Council. I am sure that they are silently cheering for
her all the way. Here is her November 1, 2000 column. You be
the judge: More Ontario chiros take anti-vaccine
position. I suggest that you click on the link below about Mark C. Mitchell
who seems to me to be in need of a refresher course in immunization,
immunology, and common sense: |
The College of Chiropractors of Ontario proposes a code of ethics: SECTION 4: ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS TO THE PUBLIC Ethical Chiropractors shall: 1. Claim only qualifications possessed, represent accurately the nature of chiropractic treatment, and convey correct information when interpreting scientific knowledge. (I am sorry to say that these ethical guidelines may have been challenged by Szalay.) CCO policy on immunization that states: 1. Members who disseminate information about immunization to patients or to members of the public have an obligation to inform themselves about immunization, including scientific research. 2. In disseminating information about immunization to patients or to members of the public, members shall: a. advise that immunization is not within the scope of practice of chiropractic nor do chiropractors have the legislative authority to immunize patients; b. outline, within the member1s knowledge and expertise, the effects, benefits, risks and side-effects of immunization, versus no immunization for: individual patients and the public at large; and c. advise that the Immunization of School Pupils Act provides for circumstances in which school pupils may be exempted from immunization. |
Educate yourself before agreeing to vaccination
Health Matters: Peterborough This Week
Dr. Colette Szalay, D.C.
Nov 1, 2000 With the advent of the flu season and the recently publicly-funded flu
immunization program in Ontario, I was prompted to do some research into
vaccinations in general. I found two types of information: one very accessible because it is trying
to sell a product and is supported by the government; the second harder to
track down, compiled by a growing group of concerned health care workers,
parents and researchers, including medical doctors. This latter information
is not as accessible to the public mainly because it is found in professional
journals written in medical lingo. The recent mail-out by the Ontario government states "vaccines are
one of the public health success stories of the 20th century". However,
epidemiological studies show the majority of infectious diseases, such as
measles, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), had declined up to 90 per
cent before any vaccine was used in mass proportions. These diseases were
decreasing naturally as a result of an increase in nutritional status,
population and population control measures. One exception is polio, with much of its worldwide eradication due to
vaccine. Interestingly, however, a 1996 study showed, in the last 17 years,
the only cause of polio in the United States was the results of the oral
version of the polio vaccine. I'm certainly not advocating anti-immunization for everyone. In fact, I
fully agree vaccination programs do save lives, particularly in developing
countries where nutrition and hygiene are poor and children die from
infectious diseases. Since having done this research, though, I am now personally opposed to it
for myself and for my future children. I also believe in freedom of choice
through education, and an individual's right to make a personal choice when
informed of the pros and cons of vaccination. There are so many vaccinations given to babies, school-aged children and
even adults that most people do not even question whether they are necessary
or could potentially cause problems. Did you ever stop and think whether
there can be any harm in injecting highly noxious substances made up of
bacteria] or viral components into a 2-month-old infant whose brain, nervous
system and immune system are not yet fully developed? When Japan moved the vaccination age to two years, SIDS (Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome) disappeared. Sweden, since banning the pertussis vaccine (the
"P" in your child's DPT vaccine) in 1979, has since had the second
lowest infant mortality rate in the world. Japan, the United States and the province of Quebec have instituted
programs to compensate vaccine-damaged children. Although these programs are
largely inaccessible and inadequate, their presence nevertheless indicates
vaccine damage does occur. I wonder if pharmaceutical giants with a vested interest in selling a
product, and the government, are being socially responsible when not
informing the public of the potential adverse effects of vaccines. This is
particularly disconcerting when studies published in medical journals are
increasingly pointing to connections with vaccine-induced damage including
learning disabilities, brain damage and SIDS. Vaccinating North American children with the measles and chicken pox is
perhaps not the wisest thing to do. Having these diseases in childhood is
mild and provides life-long immunity, unlike vaccines. Research now shows
allowing a child to be expose to these diseases and build up natural immunity
is actually protective against future allergies and asthma. It also seems illogical to vaccinate, en masse, an entire population of
totally healthy children with hepatitis B and the flu vaccine when these are
only prevalent or potentially dangerous in high-risk groups. As an aside,
there is now evidence pointing to a link between hepatitis B vaccines and the
onset of insulin-dependent diabetes. Comprehensive, long-term studies of artificially vaccinating humans are
difficult to find in the research. It is sometimes frightening the public relies
so much on biotechnology and biomedicine propagated by the
"experts". Just look at what has happened since the widespread use of antibiotics.
Yes, antibiotics have saved lives but their overuse has led to all kinds of
bacteria] mutations created by man and the repercussions have yet to be seen.
There are several books parents may want to read prior to choosing to
vaccinate a child. This reading list is available from our office. The web
site www.909shot.com also informs
on the not-openly- discussed side of vaccinations. A copy of summarized
research articles is also available from our office. Many parents believe they have no choice in having their baby vaccinated
and that vaccines are a prerequisite for attending school. Childhood
vaccinations in Ontario are not mandatory. The Peterborough County-City
Health Unit and school nurses have an exemption form that allows you the
choice in not vaccinating your child for conscience or religious reasons. If
no one is speaking up to dispel the myths behind vaccinations, the least I
can do as a service to my patients, and the community at large, is educate. If you want to send them a letter to fill in the
blanks betweem her fiction and the facts, just send them e-mail at: webmaster@peterboroughthisweek.com
Szalay is not the leader of the pack
Below you will find links to some of the weirdest and
loudest anti-vaccine sites run by chiropractors and their supporters. You
will find more than a vague similarity between Szaray's quotes and complete
lines from some of this banter. Some, like infomercial star Katrina Kulhay, even
charge $20.00 to see an anti-vaccine video from Australia, that cost her
about $39, and she has the nerve to ask you to bring a pot-luck dinner to
boot. Her three story mid-town chiropractic/chelation centre/green tea house
dreams are yet another reason why the College of Chiropractors has given up
on regulation. Unless a chiropractor strangles their assistant, or molests 16
patients, you can place your bets on how long will be before anti-vaccine
chiropractors are charged with infractions of the chiropractic guidelines or
code of ethics. Dr. Grady A. Deal, Ph.D., D.C. is a holistic,
nutritional chiropractor with a Ph.D. in psychological counseling. Dr. Deal
is founder-director of Hawaiian Wellness Holiday, a health vacation program
on beautiful Kauai, and he is author of Dr. Deal's Delicious Detox Diet,
Weight Loss, Wellness Lifestyle, Dr. Deal's Delicious Recipes and Dr. Deal's
Holistic Chiropractic Examination Protocol books. "Taking vaccines made from blood of humans, aborted
fetuses, diseased pigs and monkeys, mercury, aluminum and formaldehyde is a
violation of God's law and more of a cause of disease than a cure. First
Corinthians 3:16-17 and Deuteronomy 14:3 and 24:21 warns us not to defile the
temple of God, our bodies, with anything unclean, which includes poisonous
vaccines purposely designed to make us sick and dependent and to destroy the
biological integrity and immunocompetence of the human race." "25,000...American babies succumb to cot
deaths (crib death or sudden infant death) each year...Vaccination is the
single biggest cause of cot death...When Japan moved the vaccination age to 2
years, the cot death entity disappeared in that country. "
It is our contention that the varieties of social
pathology listed above constitute this body of vaccine damage. "We have
met the enemy and he is us!!"
Her E-mail address is listed as: colette@kawartha.com Szalay's other letters are full of holes
Colette Szalay did not just write one column. She's
been busy as an Australian platypus wagging her anti-vaccine tales in Trent
University's student newspaper known as Arthur. On October 10,
2000 she revealed her true colours, and to those of us who believe in telling
the truth, those colours were black and blue. Szalay told readers Viera Scheibner was the source for much of her
knowledge base. This Australian woman makes the rounds of quack health expos,
and she flies half-way across the world whenever we have a major epidemic,
like the meningitis outbreak in Edmonton. In October she hoodwinked the Calgary
Sun who interviewed her and allowed her rubbish to be placed in print
while tens of thousands of kids were taking part in a massive meningitis
immunization campaign. Szalay links to the notorious National Vaccine Information Center in the U.S.
There are no links to the CDC, or to Health Canada.
If a truck driver decided to put bad tires and loosened a few lug nuts on
their rims, all hell would break loose and the MOT would pull their plates.
But, I can't think of a single chiropractor who has had any restrictions on
their practice because they lied to their patients, or espoused lies in their
columns, or letters to the editor. Nothing but the facts about immunizations
Humphrey takes direct aim at Szalay's wayward
ship and blows multiple holes in her sails. This is only the first letter
that he intends to send the editor or Peterborough This Week.
Dr Viera Scheibner describes herself as a retired
principal research scientist. She has a PhD in micropaleontology and
in 1993 published a book - Vaccination 100 Years of Orthodox Research
shows that Vaccines Represent a Medical Assault on the Immune System. My primary concern is as follows: Are parents
who base their decision not to immunise their child on reading Dr Scheibner’s
book making a truly informed choice? Has Dr Scheibner presented her material
in a scientifically balanced way? Is she telling the whole story?
In the 20th century, vaccines all but eliminated many
childhood ailments. But a vocal minority questions whether the side effects
are worse than the diseases. Few Canadians have seen the horrors of
diphtheria, rubella or polio because of routine childhood immunization. Yet
each year, roughly 34,000 children under the age of four do not get
vaccinated. Some parents object to vaccination on religious or philosophical
grounds. Others are swayed by claims that the cure is worse than the disease.
For example, visitors to Canada caused outbreaks
of measles recently in religious communities in Alberta and Quebec. In
Manitoba, a rubella (German measles) outbreak occurred in 1997, with cases
rising to 3,991 from 237 in 1996. Measles fading, but not completely gone -Victoria
Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Dec. 11, 2000 U.S. cases now are mostly imported from overseas, but
public health experts stress that the highly contagious disease has not yet
been eradicated.
Polio is no longer crippling Canadian kids. Diphtheria is
no longer killing them. Smallpox has been wiped off the face of the globe.
Yet despite what many accept as solid proof that mass immunization programs
can and do work, a small but vocal segment of the population view
vaccinations as at best unnecessary and at worst a serious threat to the
health of the children who receive them. "It's only a theory," Winnipeg
chiropractor Gerry Bohemier says of the idea that immunizations work.
"There is no information to indicate that these vaccinations are safe,
that these vaccinations are necessary or that these vaccinations are the only
thing that they could do to improve people's protection from some of these
diseases." In the U.S., widespread use of measles vaccine has led to
a greater than 99% reduction in measles compared with the pre-vaccine era. If
we stopped immunization, measles would increase to pre-vaccine levels.
LOUISE BATE is gazing listlessly from her mother's arms,
showing little interest in her toys or her three-year-old brother, William,
playing on the floor. Aged nine months, she is just recovering from a dose of
measles that has left her drained of energy. She lays the blame at the door of other parents
who are refusing to let their children have the three-in-one measles, mumps
and rubella (MMR) vaccination.
Colette lied in her letter to the editor in October 31st
issue of Arthur when she said: "But to vaccinate North
American children with chicken pox and measles when these are normal
childhood diseases is absurd. Having these diseases in childhood is mild, and
provides life-long immunity, unlike vaccines. Research now shows that
allowing a child to be exposed to these diseases and build up natural
immunity is actually protective against future allergies and asthma." This recently graduated chiropractor has the bloody nerve to talk about
measles being a mild disease. I lived in Ohio when there was a massive
epidemic of measles at Kent State University. I don't know about what she
means by "mild", but 1:1000 people who contract measles have grave
complications. She also repeated her statements about SIDS in Japan which are
totally false. She asks readers to contact her to collect more
"misinformation" and recommends Viera Scheibner's scandalous book. She ends this letter by saying: If no one is speaking up to
dispel the myths behind vaccinations, the least I can do as a service to my
patients and the community at large is to educate." I challenge Szalay to define what the word "educate" means. If
her definition of "educate" also includes brainwash, hoodwink, and
lie to the public about the facts about immunizations, then she has done the
community a great disservice. If she actually believes the rubbish put forth
by anti-vaccine writers, without checking her facts, then she is not a very
good journalist. I can't comment on her ability to express her thoughts to her own
patients, nor do I have anything to say about her ability to practice her
profession. I just want her to retract her misstatements in the press and for
her statements to be reviewed by the Minister of Health, the local Medical
Officer of Health and by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario. Peterborough resident's options
If you see or hear any chiropractor telling anyone in
public to avoid vaccinations, please feel free to call your local Medical
Officer of Health office. Chiropractors will often invite their patients into
their offices, or rent space in churches or libraries to promote their
practice and their views. Some even rent space in shopping malls or community
fairs to mesmerize the public about their skills in divining the innate
intelligence that their treatments are based on. Somehow, most of us
science-based folks just don't get it: Dr. Garry Humphreys If you feel that a complaint is warranted because a chiropractor promotes
anti-vaccine rhetoric you may file an official complaint against them by
contacting: College
of Chiropractors of Ontario |
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- Back to Chiropractic war on public health
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.