Discipline, Grounds for Revocation or Suspension, and Enforcement
Grounds for discipline
The statute lists grounds on which the Board may refuse, suspend, revoke, or restrict a license. Common categories include fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license, unprofessional conduct, incompetence or gross negligence, practicing outside the scope of chiropractic, violating Board rules or a Board order, and impairment from drugs or alcohol. Discipline is not limited to revocation: the Board may impose probation, reprimand, fines, additional education, practice restrictions, or monitoring.
Enforcement process
Enforcement typically begins with a complaint, which may come from a patient, another licensee, an insurer, or the Board itself. The Board investigates, may subpoena records, and either closes the matter, resolves it by consent order, or proceeds to hearing. Interim or summary suspension may be available where there is an immediate risk to the public, but it still requires a prompt hearing.
Traps to watch
- Questions framing discipline as all-or-nothing. The Board has a graduated menu of sanctions; choose the option that reflects that range.
- Items assuming a criminal conviction is required for discipline. It is not; unprofessional conduct and rule violations stand alone.
- Confusing mandatory reporting duties with discipline grounds. Failing to report can itself be a violation.
- Overlooking that practicing on a lapsed license is a separate, independently actionable violation.
Rule of thumb
For any fact pattern, ask two questions: which enumerated ground is implicated, and which sanction is proportionate? An answer that names a specific ground and a graduated sanction is usually better than a sweeping one. Remember that the Board's paramount statutory concern is protection of the public, not punishment of the licensee.