Chiropractors disciplined by a state chiropractic board and a comparison with disciplined medical physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To determine categories of offense, experience, and gender of disciplined doctors of chiropractic (DC) in California and compare them with disciplined medical physicians in California.


METHODS
Retrospective reviews of publicly available data from the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners.


RESULTS
The DC disciplinary categories, in descending order, were fraud (44%), sexual boundary issues (22%), other offenses (13%), abuse of alcohol or drugs (10%), negligence or incompetence (6%), poor supervision (2%), and mental impairment (.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The professions differ in the major reasons for disciplinary actions. Two thirds (67%) of the doctors of chiropractic were disciplined for fraud and sexual boundary issues, compared with 59% for negligence and substance misuse for medical physicians. Additional study in each profession may reveal methods to identify causes and possible intervention for those who are at high risk.
Foreman
Stephen M
SM
Natural Sciences Department, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif, USA. smfdoc@sbcglobal.net
Stahl
Michael J
MJ
D002140:California; D002684:Chiropractic; D004647:Employee Discipline; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014481:United States