Deaths after chiropractic: a review of published cases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to summarise all cases in which chiropractic spinal manipulation was followed by death.


METHODS
This study is a systematic review of case reports.


METHODS
Literature searches in four electronic databases with no restrictions of time or language.


METHODS
Death.


RESULTS
Twenty six fatalities were published in the medical literature and many more might have remained unpublished. The alleged pathology usually was a vascular accident involving the dissection of a vertebral artery.


CONCLUSIONS
Numerous deaths have occurred after chiropractic manipulations. The risks of this treatment by far outweigh its benefit.
Ernst
E
E
Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. Edzard.Ernst@pms.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged