Public health reporting duties and mandatory reporting obligations
This domain tests when a chiropractor must report information to public authorities despite patient confidentiality. Exam questions often present a disclosure by a patient and ask whether and to whom the licensee must report.
Mandatory reporting duties
Ohio law imposes mandatory reporting on chiropractors in several contexts. Suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported to the county children services agency or law enforcement under ORC 2151.421. Suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult age 60 or older, or an adult with a developmental disability, must be reported to adult protective services under ORC 5101.63. Reportable communicable diseases must be reported to the local health department as required by Ohio Department of Health rules. The Board also expects licensees to report certain violations and impairments as required by ORC Chapter 4734.
Confidentiality and immunity
Mandatory reporting overrides patient confidentiality. A good-faith report is generally immune from civil liability. The reporter should not investigate; the duty is to report promptly and document the report.
Worked example
A patient discloses that her child is being physically abused. The chiropractor must report to children services or police immediately, not wait for the next visit or try to verify the abuse. The report should be documented in the patient’s record, including the agency contacted and the time.
Traps
Confidentiality is not a barrier to mandatory reporting. “I’ll report later” can be a failure to report. Reporting to a supervisor is not enough if the law requires a direct report. Do not omit documentation of the report.