He Developed: "abscesses throughout his body that ate away joints, including his hip joints . . ."
Originally published: 2025-04-10
Allegations of Recklessness and Permanent Injury Undermine the MCA’s False Claims of Drug Safety and Success
As Montana’s House Bill 929—which would give chiropractors the authority to prescribe and inject drugs—advances to the Senate, its drug pushing supporters on he Chiropractic Board and the MCA insist that the expansion is safe, controlled, and modeled on so-called success stories like New Mexico.
But a devastating lawsuit out of New Mexico tells a very different story—one that directly contradicts the Montana Chiropractic Association and the State Board’s claims and reveals just how dangerous this path could be for Montana patients.
A Lawsuit That Destroys the Safety Narrative
A patient in New Mexico—identified in the case as “Bud”—filed a civil malpractice complaint after allegedly suffering catastrophic, permanent injuries from injections administered by an Advanced Practice Chiropractic Physician, a designation in New Mexico for chiropractors authorized to use drugs.
The lawsuit outlines a chilling sequence of alleged negligence:
“The Defendants, when treating Bud, failed to possess and apply or use the knowledge, skill or care of similar reasonably well-qualified providers in similar circumstances.”
The complaint accuses the chiropractor and clinic of:
“Injecting substances that the Defendants contaminated with microorganisms because of their improper and inadequate procedures.”
“Not developing adequate policies, procedures and practices for safely mixing medications and injecting them into patients.”
“Failing to follow Department of Health, CDC, and other guidelines when preparing and injecting substances.”
“Misdiagnosing Bud’s condition.”
“Failing to obtain informed consent… A reasonable person in Bud’s position would not have consented to the injections if so informed.”
“Running clinics that created serious public health hazards… requiring ongoing monitoring by the New Mexico Department of Health.”
The complaint concludes that:
“The Defendants were reckless and showed extreme indifference for the health and safety of patients like Bud.”
The Devastating Results: Permanent Disability
As a direct result of these actions, the patient alleges:
“Bud developed abscesses throughout his body that ate away joints, including his hip joints.”
He endured:
Prolonged hospitalizations
Multiple surgeries
Permanent disabilities
Ongoing medical and surgical needs
Chronic pain, emotional suffering, and loss of quality of life
The physical, emotional, and financial toll was immense—and exactly the kind of outcome that chiropractic regulators and lawmakers should be working to prevent, not invite.
Radiology Confirms the Injury Was Consistent With Infection
In supporting medical documentation, a radiologist reviewing the case concluded that the pathology of the hip joint was consistent with infection, reinforcing the core allegation that improperly administered injections caused the catastrophic damage.
This is not a theoretical risk. It happened. And it happened under a regulatory framework much stricter than what HB 929 proposes for Montana.
The Insurance Battle: Even the Carrier Disputed the Coverage
To make matters worse, the chiropractor’s malpractice insurer filed a separate lawsuit to limit their payout to $200,000—despite a potential $600,000 policy cap—arguing the injuries stemmed from a single act.
This secondary legal fight highlights the broader malpractice and insurance implications HB 929 would introduce—especially for Montana chiropractors who may face skyrocketing premiums or denial of coverage if things go wrong.
Echoing the Warnings from Justice and Riekeman
This lawsuit provides real-world proof of the dangers that Rod Justice DC, Executive Director of the Alliance of New Mexico Chiropractors, and Cathy Riekeman DC, former Chair of the New Mexico Board of Chiropractic Examiners, warned about in their testimony to Montana lawmakers.
Both leaders described the New Mexico experience as a “fiasco”—a failed model plagued by professional division, legal chaos, and regulatory dysfunction. Cathy Riekeman, who oversaw the state board during the crisis, made it clear: the claims of safety and success made by HB 929 supporters are either intentionally misleading or rooted in ignorance.
This case proves that their warnings were not alarmist—they were factual, lived experience.
Montana: Learn From New Mexico—Don’t Repeat Its Mistakes
The proponents of HB 929 continue to downplay the risks, claiming the medications are “low-tier” and the training will be “optional.” But the evidence from New Mexico—and this lawsuit—makes clear:
Chiropractors are not prepared to safely administer drugs and injections.
Inadequate training and oversight can result in life-altering harm.
Insurance companies may dispute coverage and leave patients and providers exposed.
Montana’s proposed model lacks even the limited safeguards that failed in New Mexico.
This bill is not about patient care. It is about unchecked professional expansion, political maneuvering, and a complete disregard for the real risks that come with drug authority.
Montana lawmakers must reject HB 929—for the sake of public safety, professional integrity, and the credibility of the chiropractic profession.
