Kansas and Missouri Professional Licensing Attorney Danielle Sanger Explains: Most Common Reasons for Chiropractor Discipline
Chiropractors are a vital part of the medical community. That said, like any other medical professional, they face scrutiny from licensing boards and have false allegations made against them from time to time. They are obviously human as well and are susceptible to mistakes in judgment. I have much enjoyed my representation of chiropractors, and am often asked by my chiropractor clients about what the most common reasons that their peers find themselves before the state licensing board. I have drafted this post to answer that question.
If you are a chiropractor in Kansas or Missouri facing an investigation that jeopardizes your professional license, call attorney Sanger today at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free consultation. Your career, reputation, and livelihood are at risk, and the challenge facing you is one you cannot work your way through this alone.
Most Common Reasons for Chiropractor Discipline
Insurance Fraud: Medicare fraud is the most common reason chiropractors lose their licenses. Insurance fraud can be committed by engaging in fictitious billing for services that were not rendered and prescribing unnecessary procedures.
Negligence/Malpractice: An allegation of negligence/malpractice arises when a patient alleges that a chiropractor failed to meet the standard of care for a procedure and the patient suffered an injury as a result.
Criminal Convictions: A criminal conviction may result in a licensure action, but it often depends on the type and severity of the conviction. For example, a conviction for reckless driving is unlikely to have any effect on a chiropractor’s license, but a conviction for illegal drug distribution most likely will. Similarly, any conviction that suggests that the chiropractor may not be safe with the public or the public’s money, such as convictions for sexual assault, domestic violence, or fraud, may trigger a suspension action.
Sexual misconduct: Chiropractors should not have a sexual relationship with a patient. This is strictly enforced. What I commonly see is a consensual relationship that started gradually and in conjunction with treatment. When the relationship was going well, the chiropractor thought there was no harm in pursuing it; however, when the relationship was discovered or ended, a complaint arose.
Illegally Prescribing Medications: There is an opioid epidemic in the United States right now, and some of its cause is medical professionals who overprescribed addictive drugs or provided prescriptions to drug-seeking patients who were already addicted. Be scrupulous in your prescription practices to avoid allegations of misconduct.
How Can a Chiropractor Prevent License Suspension or Revocation?
While an allegation may have been made against you, that does not mean that you will be suspended. Before you can have any disciplinary action taken against you, you must receive “due process,” meaning that you must receive the specific allegations against you, the evidence supporting those allegations, and an opportunity to prevent your version of events and evidence at a hearing. With the help of an experienced licensing attorney, you can often have the allegations against you dismissed or reduced. Going through this process alone is foolhardy.
Contact an Experienced Kansas and Missouri Licensing Attorney Now
You have worked too hard to attain your chiropractic license. An inquiry from your licensing board means that your livelihood is in jeopardy. Contacting an experienced licensing attorney to help you through this process and can mean the difference between getting back to helping your patients or clients and losing your career forever.
Kansas and Missouri professional licensing attorney Danielle Sanger is prepared to advocate for your best interests and defend you. Call Attorney Sanger at 785-979-4353 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney experienced dealing with licensing issues.