Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Do the witnesses have any figures on the number of X-rays per head of population seen by chiropractors in Ireland versus the number seen in other countries? If chiropractors have 10,000 patients, are they all getting three X-rays in a lifetime? How does that compare internationally? Is there any indication that there is an overuse of X-ray or any sort of imaging in the Irish context? I am conscious of a recent article in The Lancet, which is considered a very well respected journal. The article referred to over-prescription of X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI. I am summarising a large document here.It does not just refer to chiropractors but to all referrals. The article claimed there is no improvement in outcomes in the majority of cases and an increase in interventions and surgeries. This is part of a broader discussion around overdiagnosis. Do the witnesses have any evidence that chiropractors in Ireland are X-raying people more than in other jurisdictions?