Such is the case of Gary Edwards, a chiropractor whose license had been suspended in 2002 by members of the Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
The organization decided to suspend Edwards’ license because he was accused of telling a man with AIDS that chiropractic treatment had cured him and that he was now free to start a family. Chiropractic, of course, does not have the power to treat AIDS or HIV in any way. In fact, it is most often used to correct simple matters such as lower back pain and headaches.
When the patient died, he left behind a wife and child, both of whom have HIV. That’s when allegations began to focus on Edwards’ role as a healer.
The board based their decision, not on factual evidence, but rather on hearsay. The patient’s wife and mother both stated that Edwards had claimed that chiropractic treatment had cured him. That’s all it took for the board to suspend Edwards’ license to practice in Missouri.
Not surprisingly, Edwards left the state to work elsewhere.
In the meantime, though, he continued to pursue the matter. The board had taken away his ability to earn a living, and he wasn’t going to let that happen without a serious court trial. After a series of trials and appeals, the court has finally reached its decision: Edwards will receive 6.3 million dollars from the Missouri board.
Lots of evidence came to light during the case. Perhaps the most favorable for Edwards, though, was testimony stating that the patient, a Mennonite, had received blessings and prayers from a local holy man. The minister told the patient that he was free of his disease and could now start a family. Edwards believes that the family confused these events.
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