Having heard from the GCC today about the complaints I submitted, it seems I turned up one chiropractor who is being deliberately dishonest.
Here she is:
Dr Marie-Christine Dix DC MBCA
Back to Balance Chiropractic Clinic
Lido de France Medical Centre
St Saviour’s Road
St Helier
Jersey
Channel Islands
JE1 7XP
Her page clearly states “Dr Dix is regulated by The General Chiropractic Council.” http://www.drmcdix.co.uk/contact.html
Errr that’s wrong according to the GCC who say she is not registered with them and does not come under their remit. They have written to her to tell her to remove the claims. She also claims to be a member of the BCA – well she doesn’t show up doing a search of their website and the BCA require all its members to be GCC registered, so that would also seem to be wrong! Her pages display the logos for both organisations.
She claims to have qualified as a chiropractor with the AECC – and that may well be true, but certainly worth checking. Any AECC members out there able to confirm this?
Her webpage also says “Undertakes work for most major health insurance providers including AXAPPP and Norwich Union“ I wonder how these health insurers view these false claims?
I think the CPR2008 cover the Chan Is and if they do then she is clearly in breach of at least one item of CPR 2008 Schedule 1 (prohibited commercial practices).
Schedule 1 (4) Claiming that a trader (including his commercial practices) or a product has been approved, endorsed or authorised by a public or private body when the trader, the commercial practices or the product have not or making such a claim without complying with the terms of the approval, endorsement or authorisation.
Anyway her webpages have been saved and her claims sent to Jersey Trading Standard, I have asked them to look at the claims, verify her qualifications and confirm she meets whatever standards are required to practice as a chiropractor in Jersey.
===========Update / Correction =========
I have had it confirmed by the BCA that Marie-Christine Dix is in fact registered with the BCA. When I searched for her (using her clinic postcode) nothing was returned, but her details can be seen her:
http://www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk/members.aspx?adv=true&surname=dix&county=JERSEY
The BCA’s usual requirement for membership is registration with the GCC
” Chiropractors applying must already be registered or in the process of registering with General Chiropractic Council, the UK’s statutory regulator for the profession. “
But the GCC’s remit does not extend to the Chan Islands, so I guess the BCA make an exception to their membership requirments.
However membership of the BCA does not automatically grant her the right to claim to be GCC registered.
Zeno
September 4, 2010
Tut, tut.
You might also like to report her to Nominet. According to the entry for her website (which was last updated on 07 May 2010):
According to their rules, a business cannot opt out:
Darryl
September 6, 2010
I found Dr Dix on the BCA’s members list and not on the GCC’s list.
skepticbarista
September 6, 2010
Thanks Darryl,
I did a search but didn’t turn up anything on the BCA’s list, but following the link in the email you sent then YES you are correct she is listed as a BCA member.
I have contacted the BCA for some clarification as their membership requirements state that chiropractors must be registered with the GCC …. which she is not!
I will post a full update / correction once I hear back from the BCA.
Dr Marie-Christine Dix
October 14, 2010
Hello,
I have been made aware of this site by a current patient who was looking up information and discovered you by chance.
I would like to take this opportunity to set a few things straight as you seem to be having difficulty collecting the correct data.
Firstly I will openly admit to having the GCC logo and information on my website in error as I had de-registered. This was an oversight as the website had not been updated in over 2 years and I had completely forgotten to edit this at the time. This is not good enough I understand, but I will hold my hands up to that. This has been amended since I was made aware by the GCC.
I de-registered early 2010 as it came to our attention (chiropractors practising offshore) that the GCC did not cover the Channel islands in their legislation when they set it up. Chiropractors practising within the Channel islands are therefore not covered by GCC legislation and we are in talks with them at present to get this changed at the earliest convenience. You all can contact the GCC directly to confirm this.
In the mean time Chiropractors within the Channel Islands have been seeking legal advice on how to set up the Channel Island Chiropractic Association in accordance with GCC guidelines to offer a regulatory body within the Channel Islands that will offer protection for patients treated by any Channel island chiropractor.
With regard to the BCA they have also been made aware of this oversight in the legislation and are being kept in the loop by both ourselves (channel island chiropractors) and the GCC.
I suggest contacting both the GCC and BCA for further information if you so please.
I hope this has helped answer some of your questions.
Kind regards
Marie-Christine Dix
skepticbarista
October 14, 2010
Hello and thanks for the comment and info.
I have had contact with the GCC, BCA and Jersey Trading Standards and the GCC informed me that the Channel Is were outside their remit and that they had been in contact with you. The BCA also confirmed that you are registered with them.
There is perhaps one further point you may be able to comment on.
On your website (and I acknowledge that it may still be out of date) you mention the use of chiropractic for the treatment of “infantile colic, sleep disorders, reflux, irritable infant syndrome”. I’m sure that you are aware of the GCC sponsored ‘Bronfort’ report that concluded that there is no reliable evidence to support the view that chiropractic is an effective treatment for any of these conditions.
http://www.gcc-uk.org/page.cfm?page_id=1396
Are you aware of any good quality evidence to support these claims?
If Channel Island chiropractors are looking at operating in accordance with the GCC guidelines, it would seem to be a sensible idea to remove claims that breach the GCC Code of Practice.
As a member of the BCA I’m sure they could offer some advice on claims for non-musculoskeletal conditions like colic!
Regards
Dr Marie-Christine Dix
October 15, 2010
Morning
Thank you for your prompt response. I can confirm that there was reference to colic and some other conditions on my website. This has since been removed in conjunction with evidence from the Bronfort report.
I hope that my website is not misleading in any way and I have endeavoured to keep information in line with best evidence and BCA and GCC guidelines.
I hope this has helped clear up any misunderstanding, however if you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Kind regards
Marie-Christine Dix
Website – http://www.drmcdix.co.uk
Email – info@drmcdix.co.uk
Telephone – 01534 789367