Firm’s Matt Wood Gains Favorable opinion from Texas Supreme court in Chiropractic Case

By Weisbart Springer Hayes

The Texas Supreme Court has published an opinion siding with the Texas Chiropractic Association in a dispute with the Texas Medical Association over the scope of practice for the more than 6,000 chiropractors in the state. The Court found that nerves and certain neurological testing are not excluded from the authority granted to the profession under state law.

The decision echoes the oral arguments made by firm partner Matt Wood before the Court on September 16. Applying a “textual analysis,” the Court “recognize[d] the reality that musculoskeletal dysfunctions cannot be diagnosed or treated without considering associated nerves” and accordingly rejected all of the Texas Medical Association’s efforts to limit the scope of chiropractic.

“Today’s decision was not only legally sound but a victory for common sense and patient care,” says Wood. “A different outcome could have drastically curtailed access to critical chiropractic care for patients across the state of Texas. The Court’s decision preserves the right of chiropractors to serve the people of this state to the full extent of the law. It was an honor to represent the chiropractors of Texas in such a high-stakes appeal.”

The case is Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners et al. v. Texas Medical Association, No. 18-1223, in the Texas Supreme Court.

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