Complaint Filing Process

The public has the right to file a Complaint Filing Process against a Chiropractor for violations outlined in NC General Statute 90-154(b). The violations within the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners jurisdiction are listed below:

    1. Advertising services in a false or misleading manner.
    2. Conviction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude.
    3. Addiction to or severe dependency upon alcohol or any other drug that impairs the ability to practice safely.
    4. Unethical conduct as defined in G.S. 90-154.2.
    5. Negligence, incompetence, or malpractice in the practice of chiropractic.
    6. Repealed by Session Laws 1995, c. 188, s. 1.
    7. Not rendering acceptable care in the practice of the profession as defined in G.S. 90-154.3
    8. Lewd or immoral conduct toward a patient.
    9. Committing or attempting to commit fraud, deception, or misrepresentation.
    10. Offering to waive a patient’s obligation to pay any deductible or copayment required by the patient’s insurer.
    11. Failing to honor promptly a patient’s request for a copy of any claim form submitted to the patient’s insurer.
    12. Rebating or offering to rebate to a patient any portion of the funds received from the patient’s insurer, unless the sum rebated constitutes the refund of an overpayment to which the patient is lawfully entitled.
    13. Advertising any free or reduced rate service without prominently stating in the advertisement the usual fee for that service.
    14. Charging an insurer or other third-party payor a fee greater than a patient would be charged for the same service if the patient were paying directly.
    15. Charging an insurer or other third-party payor a fee greater than the advertised fee for the same service.
    16. Violating the provisions of G.S. 90-154.1.
    17. Physical, mental, or emotional infirmity of such severity as to impair the ability to practice safely.
    18. Violating the provisions of G.S. 90-151 regarding the extent and limitation of license.
    19. Concealing information from the Board or failing to respond truthfully and completely to an inquiry from the Board concerning any matter affecting licensure.
    20. Failing to comply with a decision of the Board that is final.
    21. Committing an act on or after October 1, 2007, which demonstrates a lack of good moral character which would have been a basis for denying a license under G.S. 90-143(b)(1), had it been committed before application for a license.

The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners may impose any of the following sanctions, singly or in combination, when it finds that a Chiropractor or applicant is guilty of any offense described above:

  1. Permanently revoke a license to practice chiropractic;
  2. Suspend a license to practice chiropractic;
  3. Refuse to grant a license;
  4. Censure a practitioner;
  5. Issue a letter of reprimand;
  6. Place a practitioner on probationary status and require him to report regularly to the Board upon the matters which are the basis of probation.

The Board does not have authority to order a Chiropractor to make restitution or pay monetary damages to complainants.

FILING A COMPLAINT

To file a complaint, complete the Complaint Filing Form and submit it by Regular Mail, Fax or Email to the Board as listed below:

North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners
9121 Anson Way, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27615

Fax: (704) 793-1385

Email: ncboce@ncchiroboard.com

Once your complaint has been received, the Board will notify the Chiropractor of the complaint. The complaint will be reviewed by the Secretary of the Board and a determination will be made if a Probable Cause Hearing is necessary. If a Probable Cause Hearing is scheduled, both the Complainant and Chiropractor will be notified of the date, time and location..
. The Probable Cause Hearing is an informal hearing held before the Review Committee of the Board who will determine if probable cause exists.

If you have any questions about any aspect of the process or completing the Complaint Filing Form, please contact the Board office at:

Phone: (704) 793-1342
Fax: (704) 793-1385
Email: ncboce@ncchiroboard.com