An Athens chiropractor might lose his license for what the Ohio State Chiropractic Board deemed willful and gross malpractice.
James Burda says he can use vibrational manipulations to cure back pain in patients without touching them or even meeting in person, according to his Web site, www.bahlaqeem.com. He calls his technique bahlaqeem
a word he made up to describe his ability to use his mind to adjust most joints and bones in the body.
The board issued Burda a notice of opposition March 31, giving him 30 days to request a hearing where he can defend himself. If he does not respond, the board will discipline Burda without his input.
Kelly Caudill, executive director of the board, said Wednesday that Burda had not responded.
The board stated bahlaqeem was an unacceptable form of treatment according to acceptable and prevailing standards of chiropractic care in the notice.
The notice rejected the idea that Burda could go back in time to a previous accident and treat an accident victim right after their involvement in the accident.
However, Burda said the claim that he could go back in time was taken out of context by media outlets.
The board also considers Burda delusional and unable to practice chiropractic because of mental illness
according to the notice.
Sanctions from the board could range from a reprimand to a revocation of his license, Caudill said.
Burda refused to comment on the notice for this article but defended his technique.
What I do is real; it does work
but people are making it more sensational than what it is supposed to be
Burda said.
Burda has had his chiropractic license since 1991 and still treats some patients through more traditional, hands-on chiropractic methods.
He developed his technique of mental manipulation six years ago when he discovered he was able to realign his toe by focusing his mind on moving the bones. The pain disappeared, and he was able to do it again in another incident, according to his Web site.
The average treatment involves several steps detailed on his Web site. Burda silently requests permission from the person in pain and investigates the source of the pain by asking questions, some silent and some spoken. He then corrects the problem either by telling the bone to shift to its proper position or by hand-directing it.
Satisfied customers include Daisy Mae, a 10-year-old dog whose testimonial was written by her owner, KL, and posted on Burda's Web site.
Burda provides as many treatments as needed to stop the pain and improve movement in a 24-hour period for $60. Only communication via telephone or e-mail is necessary, according to his Web site.
Burda's practice is definitely unacceptable, said James Winterstein, president of the National University of Health Sciences, an accredited, board-endorsed chiropractic school in Lombard, Ill.
Chiropractic treatment should consist of an exam
just like any other doctor
and it can include manipulation
physical therapy
nutritional therapy
rehabilitation or exercise therapy but not telepathic quackery
