AK Chiropractic Jurisprudence flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Scope of chiropractic

Chiropractic practice under Alaska law involves detection and correction of vertebral subluxation and adjustment or manipulation of the spine and articulations, plus examination and diagnostic services, excluding surgery and legend drugs.

Vertebral subluxation complex

A central chiropractic concept describing misalignment or dysfunction of a spinal segment and its effects on nerve function and surrounding tissues, which chiropractors diagnose and address through adjustment.

Adjustment definition

A manual procedure directed at the spine or adjacent tissues using controlled force with specific direction, amplitude, and velocity, intended to restore or improve joint function and alignment.

Unlicensed practice prohibition

Alaska law prohibits practicing chiropractic or using chiropractic titles without a valid license; aiding another person in unlicensed practice is also a violation subject to sanction.

CE accreditation requirement

Applicants must graduate from a chiropractic college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or a recognized equivalent, ensuring the educational program meets national standards.

National board examinations

Applicants must pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examinations, which assess basic science, clinical science, and jurisprudence competence before licensure.

Licensure by credentials

A pathway allowing licensees from other jurisdictions to obtain an Alaska license based on verified equivalent education, examination, and practice history rather than re-examination.

Criminal history check

The board may require fingerprinting and a criminal background check as part of the application, and disqualifying convictions may be considered under applicable state law.

Board composition

The chiropractic board includes licensed chiropractor members and public members appointed by the governor, each serving fixed terms, with public members representing consumer interests.

Board rulemaking authority

The board adopts regulations under the Alaska Administrative Procedure Act that set education, examination, renewal, and practice standards, and these regulations have the force of law.

Contested case hearing

An adjudicative proceeding under the Administrative Procedure Act in which a licensee receives notice, an opportunity to present evidence, and a written decision subject to appeal.

Investigative subpoena power

The board or its designee may issue subpoenas and compel production of records and testimony relevant to a complaint, and noncompliance can itself be sanctioned.

Grounds for discipline

Sanctionable grounds include fraud in obtaining licensure, incompetence, gross negligence, unprofessional conduct, practicing while impaired, and practicing outside the licensed scope.

Summary suspension

An emergency action suspending a license before a full hearing when continued practice poses an imminent danger to public health and safety, followed promptly by a hearing.

Range of sanctions

Board sanctions may include reprimand, administrative fines, probation with conditions, required remedial education, suspension, or revocation of the license, depending on the violation.

Reciprocal discipline

A disciplinary action taken against a licensee by another jurisdiction or a criminal conviction may serve as an independent basis for Alaska board discipline.

Continuing education cycle

Licensees must complete a board-specified number of continuing education hours per renewal period, including any required jurisprudence or ethics hours, from approved providers.

CE recordkeeping

Licensees must retain certificates documenting completed continuing education and produce them on board audit or request; falsifying these records is unprofessional conduct.

Late renewal penalty

Renewing after the deadline may require payment of an additional penalty fee, and continued practice on a lapsed license constitutes unlicensed practice.

Inactive license status

A non-practicing status that relieves the licensee of active practice while preserving the license, subject to restrictions and conditions set by board rule.

Patient record contents

Each patient record must document history, examination findings, diagnosis, treatment plan, services rendered, and progress, in a legible and contemporaneous manner.

Record retention period

Records must be kept for the period specified by Alaska law and board rule, and retention obligations continue after the patient terminates care or the licensee closes practice.

Patient access to records

Patients may request and receive copies of their records, subject to reasonable copying fees and lawful redaction of third-party or protected information.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires disclosure of the proposed care, its material risks and benefits, reasonable alternatives, and the right to refuse, documented before treatment begins.

Confidentiality duty

Patient information may be disclosed only with patient authorization or as required by law, such as mandatory reporting, court order, or a lawful board investigation request.

Truthful advertising rule

Chiropractic advertising must be accurate and not misleading, may not promise cures or unsubstantiated superior outcomes, and may not misrepresent credentials or specialties.

Fee splitting prohibition

Paying or receiving compensation for patient referrals, or splitting fees with referral sources, is prohibited as unprofessional conduct under professional ethics rules.

Boundary violations

Exploiting the practitioner-patient relationship for personal or financial gain, including improper sexual or financial conduct, is unprofessional conduct subject to discipline.

Title use restriction

Only licensed individuals may use the titles chiropractor or doctor of chiropractic, and licensees may not misrepresent their credentials, training, or specialty status.

AS 08 licensing framework

Alaska Statute Title 8 establishes the occupational licensing system, including board structure, licensing authority, and disciplinary procedures for regulated professions.

Administrative Procedure Act

AS 44.62 governs agency rulemaking, contested case hearings, and judicial review of administrative decisions, providing the procedural framework for board actions.

Unfair trade practices act

AS 45.50 prohibits deceptive or unfair acts and practices in trade or commerce, and can apply to misleading health care advertising and consumer transactions.

Mandatory reporting duties

Alaska law requires health care providers to report specified conditions, including suspected child abuse or neglect and certain communicable diseases, to designated authorities.