Perception of Chiropractic in Australia

[PublicHealth]

What is the general perception about chiropractic among the general public in Australia? Is it as controversial as in the US?

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[JoeNamaMD]

From what I know, the perception of chiropractors is more positive in Australia than in the US. Many of them even earn more than General Practioners, some as much as specialists.

 

[PublicHealth]

From what I know, the perception of chiropractors is more positive in Australia than in the US. Many of them even earn more than General Practioners, some as much as specialists.

Thank you for your reply. Do you know if chiropractic is an integrated part of mainsteam medical/orthopedic/physical medicine care in Australia? Do chiropractors practice in hospitals?

Are there any websites that you'd recommend?

 

[FlindersGrad]

I would say that Chiro's are seen in similar lights in the US and Australia. I do not think that they work in hospitals in Australia...at least none of the hospitals I have worked in. And there is never any mention of chiro's on the ortho or physical therapy rounds.
Chiro's can probably make a good living in Australia, however you must separate high level of income with high level of respect. There are some wild claims being made by chiro's in Australia and around the world. I personally know a chiro in Australia who advocates spinal manipulation to treat childhood asthma. This is down right dangerous!!

 

[Retinamark]

They certainly don't work in hospitals & have zero respect among most physicians. There are a lot of misguided treatments out there. As ophthalmologists, we see chiropractor patients when they get Horner's syndrone or other complications from carotid dissection after neck manipulation.

 

[JoeNamaMD]

I actually know a GP in Brisbane who has a friend who is a Chiropractor, in terms of respect, he does not view him with high regard, but he has made a number of jealous comments that this Chiropractor earns several times his income. A GP in Australia earns around A$200,000 a year. The comment that stuck was that the Chiropractor drives a Mercedes S600, a car which costs about $250,000US in Australia. The GP was also making similar comments about Dentists.

 

[markdc]

Australia has a different setup than both the US and Canada WRT Chiro. Physios have much respect here and many of them do adjustments. They pretty much own the back pain and rehab side of things. I find this somewhat ironic since the same people that would let a physio adjust them would say chiro is flakey... It is definantly not an integrated part of mainsteam medical/orthopedic/physical care. I don't know of any chiros working within the med system here.

There seem to be fewer per capita than Canada and the ones that I have talked to don't sound like they make ridiculous amounts of money. However I believe that it is true that dentists make more than gps here. From what I can tell, gps around the world should band together and try to improve their quality of life. In Canada there have been comparisons of gp salaries with manual laborers that work in the Ford plant. But this is an entirely different side issue that relates to the lack of representation, leadership and vision with the GP field.

One of the reasons that chiro is less respected here is the fact that it isn't nearly as competitive as in NA and the course itself is way shorter. From what I heard it is 2 additional years on top of a sci degree as opposed to the 4 in NA and Europe. PM if you want to know more details. I used to be a chiropractor but I am in med school here and don't practice.

 

[firetown]

There seem to be fewer per capita than Canada and the ones that I have talked to don't sound like they make ridiculous amounts of money. However I believe that it is true that dentists make more than gps here. From what I can tell, gps around the world should band together and try to improve their quality of life. In Canada there have been comparisons of gp salaries with manual laborers that work in the Ford plant. But this is an entirely different side issue that relates to the lack of representation, leadership and vision with the GP field.

Some data that I have seen suggest that primary care physicians in Canada are among the highest paid in the world second to the US. Check this
http://www.nera.com/image/PP_Comparing_Physicians_Earnings_7.2005.pdf

maybe that is why it is only the US that is able to attract Canadian doctors. Canada do attract a lot of doctors from UK and Australia. Incomes of GP's in Canada are pretty good and are among probably the highest 1%.

 

[JoeNamaMD]

The economic chart doesn't surprise me, on the high end Australian physicians earn more than Canadian physicians, British physicians seem second to US doctors.
The case of the Australian chiropractor might not be typical, as in life some people are more successful than others. As it is, a GP seems to make only an above average income and a small one compared to a Dentist or another healthcare professional.

 

[firetown]

The economic chart doesn't surprise me, on the high end Australian physicians earn more than Canadian physicians, British physicians seem second to US doctors.
The case of the Australian chiropractor might not be typical, as in life some people are more successful than others. As it is, a GP seems to make only an above average income and a small one compared to a Dentist or another healthcare professional.

Probably comparing to other physicians but when compared to all professions, a GP's income will be among the very top 0.5% earners in mostly developed countries.