(a) Practitioners regulated under this chapter shall be subject to those disciplinary actions set forth in this section if, after a hearing, the Board finds the practitioner guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Unprofessional conduct is hereby defined as any of the following acts:
(1) Use of any false, fraudulent or forged statement or document or use of any fraudulent, deceitful, dishonest or unethical practice in connection with any licensing requirements of this chapter;
(2) Conviction of a crime that is substantially related to the practice of chiropractic;
(3) Any dishonorable or unethical conduct likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;
(4) The wilful violation of the confidential relations and communications of a patient;
(5) The practitioner has employed or knowingly cooperated in fraud or materiel deception in order to be licensed, or be otherwise authorized to practice chiropractic;
(6) Has excessively used or abused drugs (including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals);
(7) Practice of chiropractic under a false or assumed name;
(8) Use, distribution or prescription for use of dangerous or narcotic drugs;
(9) Solicitation or acceptance of a fee from a patient or other person by fraudulent representation that a manifestly incurable condition can be permanently cured;
(10) Knowing or intentional performance of any act which, unless authorized by the Board of Chiropractic, assists an unlicensed and unauthorized person to practice chiropractic;
(11) The failure to provide adequate supervision to a person working under the practitioner’s direction;
(12) Misconduct, incompetence or gross negligence in the practice of chiropractic;
(13) Wilful failure to divulge to the Board or any committee or representative thereof, upon its request, information relevant to authorization or competence to practice chiropractic;
(14) The violation of this chapter or the violation of an order or regulation of the Board;
(15) Charging a grossly exorbitant fee for professional services rendered;
(16) Suspension, revocation or refusal to grant a license to practice chiropractic or other disciplinary action taken by the appropriate licensing authority in another state or territory; provided, however, that the underlying grounds for such action in another state or territory have been presented to the Board by either certified record or live testimony and the Board has determined that the facts found by the appropriate authority in the other state constitute unprofessional conduct as that term is defined in paragraphs (b)(1) through (15) of this section;
(17) Engaging directly or indirectly in the division, transferring, signing, rebating or refunding of fees received for professional services or profiting by means of a credit or other valuable consideration such as wages, an unearned commission, discount or gratuity with any person who referred a patient, or with any relative or business associate of the referring person. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting the members of any regularly or properly organized entity recognized under Delaware law and comprised solely of chiropractors from making any division of their total fees among themselves as they determine by contract necessary to defray their joint operating costs. This paragraph shall not apply to chiropractic positions held by chiropractors employed by or contracted with a Delaware licensed medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy that works in the State a minimum of 10 hours per week. It will also not apply to any Delaware-licensed hospitals. The estate of a licensed chiropractor shall have 1 year to divest of the chiropractic business.
(c) Where a practitioner fails to comply with the Board’s request that the practitioner attend a hearing, the Board may petition the Superior Court to order such attendance, and the said Court or any judge assigned thereto shall have the jurisdiction to issue such order.
(d) Subject to subchapter IV of Chapter 101 of Title 29, no license shall be restricted, suspended or revoked by the Board; and no practitioner’s right to practice shall be limited by the Board, until such practitioner has been given notice, and an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act [Chapter 101 of Title 29].
(e) The Board may impose any of the following sanctions, partially, singly or in combination, when it finds that 1 of the conditions or violations set forth in subsection (b) of this section applies to a practitioner regulated under this chapter:
(1) Restrict the license of a practitioner;
(2) Publicly censure a practitioner;
(3) Issue a public letter of reprimand;
(4) Place a practitioner on probationary status, and require the practitioner to:
a. Report regularly to the Board upon the matters which are the basis for the probation;
b. Limit all practice and professional activities to those areas prescribed by the Board; and/or
c. Continue or renew the practitioner’s professional education until the required degree of skill has been attained in those areas which are the basis of the probation;
(5) Suspend any practitioner’s license;
(6) Revoke a practitioner’s license; or
(7) The Board shall permanently revoke the license to practice chiropractic of a person who is convicted of a felony sexual offense.
(f) The Board may withdraw or reduce conditions of probation when it finds that the deficiencies which required such action have been remedied.
(g) Where the Board has placed a practitioner on probationary status under certain restrictions or conditions, and the Board has determined that such restrictions or conditions are being or have been violated by the practitioner it may, after a hearing on the matter, suspend or revoke the practitioner’s license.
(h) In the event of a formal or informal complaint concerning the activity of a licensee that presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare, the Board may temporarily suspend the person’s license, pending a hearing, upon the written order of the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s designee, with the concurrence of the Board chair or the Board chair’s designee. An order temporarily suspending a license may not be issued unless the person or the person’s attorney received at least 24 hours’ written or oral notice before the temporary suspension so that the person or the person’s attorney may file a written response to the proposed suspension. The decision as to whether to issue the temporary order of suspension will be decided on the written submissions. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the temporarily suspended person requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing is convened and a decision is rendered by the Board. A person whose license has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Board shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Board receives the request within 5 calendar days from the date on which the person received notification of the decision to temporarily suspend the person’s license.
(i) As a condition to reinstatement of a suspended license, or removal from probationary status, the Board may impose such disciplinary or corrective measures as are authorized under this chapter.