Swiss law acknowledges chiropractic doctors as medical professionals and independent representatives of medicine, like medical doctors and dentists.

The chiropractor is authorised to establish their own diagnosis and is responsible for treating their own patients. This includes the ability to decide if treatment of a patient falls into their field of responsibility. The patient does not require a prescription to be treated by the chiropractor.

Prescriptions for the examinations necessary for diagnosis (such as X-rays, ultrasound scans, MRI, szintigraphy and laboratory tests) can be ordered directly by the chiropractor. The chiropractor is able to use their own X-ray machine if qualified at a federal level.

The chiropractor can decide the work capacity of patients and trigger the corresponding insurance benefit.

In the domain of scientifically recognised healthcare professions, modern chiropractics is an independent discipline at a junction between orthopedics, neurology, rheumatology and internal medicine.