The internet has gone CRAZY after a video emerged of a Chiropractor treating a 2 week old infant.

Even Victoria’s health minister condemned a Melbourne chiropractor who was filmed hanging a two-week-old baby upside down by his ankles.

A video of Dr Andrew Arnold performing controversial spinal treatments on a newborn was posted on the Cranbourne Family Chiropractic clinic’s Facebook page in August last year. The video has since been deleted.

The footage showed the chiropractor repeatedly tapping the infant’s head, manipulating the bub’s hips, collarbone and back, and using a spring-loaded device on the child’s neck.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos slammed the treatment as “unacceptable” and called on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to act.

“The Chiropractic Board of Australia must condemn this practice as unprofessional and unacceptable and the AHPRA must act quickly to stop these rogue practitioners in their tracks,” she told 9News.

Update 22 Feb

The chiropractor has since been banned from treating children aged under 12 while he is investigated by authorities.

Andrew Arnold entered an undertaking with the Chiropractic Board of Australia on Thursday, shares 7 news.

“I will not undertake any chiropractic treatment of children from birth to 12 years,” the undertaking reads on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website.

“I will not publish, display, promote or provide materials, information or advice that relates to the assessment, management or treatment of children from birth to 12 years, including but not limited to the publication of material on social media, blogs, and/or any other platform on the internet.”

Mr Arnold will be the subject of an investigation by the agency and board, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

Ms Mikakos yesterday cited the “extremely disturbing” video after referring Mr Arnold to the national authorities.

“They are investigating this matter and in fact I have invited them to meet with me and I will be meeting with both the chairperson of the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the CEO of AHPRA next week,” she told reporters.

“I’m concerned by this particular case, but I also want to ensure there aren’t other chiropractors around Australia who are similarly undertaking these types of practices.

“It’s very important that the (board) does issue very clear advice to all chiropractors in Australia about the inherent risks associated with these types of practices.”

Parents jump to his defence

Many parents have said their is nothing controversial or graphic about the video and that people need to mind their own business.

Hundreds of comments on the Today show Facebook page saw people defending the Chiropractor’s treatment.

One comment read, “I think people should mind their own business, parents are doing their job and it was a trained chiropractor, why is the today show sticking their beak in.”

Another said, “Really disappointed on Today show as this story could be a real positive … you have set the agenda, why not try a positive message next time. Probably ruined this mans career unnecessarily … shame as the baby has probably just got the best treatment needed!”

Another wrote, “You’re ruining this guy’s reputation unnecessarily. Yes, it doesn’t look that ‘nice’, but it quite possibly is necessary.
When my daughter was born, she couldn’t turn to the left properly after her head had been jammed in my pelvis for the full pregnancy. One side of her face was also going flat because we couldn’t get her to adjust her sleeping position.
I tried a physio, saw the doctor, nurse etc and the only people who helped her was our local chiropractor. We went weekly, with a technique called S.O.T., best thing we ever did!
I personally wouldn’t be comfortable with this technique in the video, but it’s not cruel. It’s a qualified practitioner.”

“He knows what his doing, the lifting upside down, its an old remedy. There must be a reason for parents to take bub to him, wouldnt be calling it endangering and child abuse is a bit extreme”, wrote another.

Another added, “My daughter had colic, i had and no sleep for the first 3mths. I was desperate to try anything. I took her to a chiropractor and that she slept. She no longer had colic. She was keeping her food down. She was breech baby born naturally. Best of all I had sleep to. I had post natal depression because of the lack of sleep and stress of a constantly crying baby. The chiropractor….best choice i made.”

And another, “Many babies have things out after being pushed out of the birth canal. Mine screamed and wouldn’t attach to one side to feed because she had one side out. Pediatrict Chiro is very gentle. My baby was so much happier after a few visits at the Chiro.”

I must admit, when our second son was born we also turned to our trusted Chiropractor. But they never received any treatment like in the above video, it was all very gentle manipulation.

Do you think it is a cruel treatment?

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