Toronto -- Re Horrible Chiropractic Hazards by Margaret Wente (April 23): Here are some additional facts to consider for those who would like to form a balanced perspective on the association between neck adjustment and stroke symptoms.

This year, an extensive commentary on chiropractic care in the Annals of Internal Medicine, published by the American College of Physicians, reviewed more than 160 reports and studies on chiropractic. It states: "The apparent rarity of these accidental events has made it difficult to assess the . . . risk. No serious complication has been noted in more than 73 controlled clinical trials or in any prospectively evaluated case series to date."

In Canada, a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last year puts the risk at one in 5.85 million adjustments.

Another Canadian study, published last year in the medical journal Stroke, concluded that stroke associated with neck adjustment is so rare that it is difficult to calculate an accurate risk ratio.

The chiropractic profession has and will continue to co-operate fully with the coroner's inquest into the death of Lana Lewis. We seek a full and objective examination of all the factors pertaining to her stroke. Selective fact-finding will serve no one well.

president, Canadian Chiropractic Association