What is the Difference Between a General Practitioner and an Australian Chiropractor?

Chiropractors and doctors are both medical professionals, but they specialize in different areas of healthcare.

Chiropractors

focus on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the body and musculoskeletal system, while doctors are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries throughout the body. There are various types of doctors, such as psychiatrists, pediatricians, neurologists, and cardiologists, who specialize in different areas of medicine. Similarly, chiropractic doctors can specialize in radiologists, orthopedists, sports medicine specialists, and pediatricians.

In the past, there has been a boycott of chiropractors by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Australian Medical Association (AMA). This boycott was declared illegal by a federal judge in the United States in 1987. As a result, many doctors are not familiar with chiropractic or the principles by which it works. The opinions of Australian general practitioners about chiropractors and osteopaths differ from those in other countries. For example, there is an ongoing debate about teaching programs in the Australian public university system for osteopaths and chiropractors.

In order to obtain a license to practice, these professionals must complete five years of tertiary education in university programs accredited by the government. Additionally, a survey of Australian general practitioners revealed that some still have negative views of chiropractors and osteopaths. In Canada, nearly 400,000 people did not see general or family doctors, suggesting that chiropractors may be providing or be able to provide primary health care to an appreciable number of people. This indicates the need for chiropractors to be well-informed and aware of problems that may require a medical referral.