Some chiropractors are offering treatments to newborn babies. Credit:Facebook President of the College of GPs, Dr Frank Jones, said there was no evidence to support the treatment which appeared cruel. He said it may have put the baby at risk of fractures and other soft tissue damage. "You could rupture ligaments, muscles and even bone if they have underlying bone problems," the GP obstetrician said. Dr Jones said while there was evidence chiropractic treatments produced mild to moderate improvements for people with soft tissue problems such as lower back pain, there was no evidence they could effectively treat other illnesses such as asthma, eczema, colic or reflux. When asked about the video, Dr Rossborough said he did not diagnose the baby with colic or reflux and only ever "screened" patients for illnesses in case he should refer them to a medical practitioner. He said manipulating a baby's spine was not dangerous if done properly.

In a separate video posted on Youtube last weekend, Dr Rossborough said checking and adjusting a baby's spine was "gentle" and did not involve any "cracking". "The reason we adjust the baby is because the parents bring them to us. They've usually already been to the medical doctors ... they come to us in desperation," he said. "It makes sense to adjust the spine ... it's the chassis, it's the thing that everything is connected to. The head sits on the spine, the brain sits inside the skull and talks to the body." In March, the Chiropractic Board of Australia warned chiropractors not to make claims that spinal manipulation could produce general wellness or treat diseases, developmental problems and infections in children such as autism, ADHD, ear infections and digestive problems. "There is insufficient scientific evidence to support these claims. Of particular concern is the number of treatment claims in advertising relating to infants and children," the board said. But several doctors have expressed concern about how seriously the Chiropractic Board is policing chiropractors who inappropriately advertise and offer treatments for such conditions to infants and children.