Raising a Concern about a Fellow Chiropractor
This section provides information for chiropractors and other health professionals, including fellow chiropractors, who have concerns about a chiropractor.
All chiropractors have a duty to act when they believe patients’ safety is at risk, or that patients’ care or dignity are being compromised.
Concerns you should raise with us
You should report concerns to us if you believe that the chiropractor’s fitness to practise is impaired. This may be for a number of reasons, including:
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misconduct
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deficient performance
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a criminal conviction or caution in the British Isles (or elsewhere for an offence which would be a criminal offence if committed in England or Wales)
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physical or mental ill-health
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lack of the necessary knowledge of English language to be able to practise chiropractic safety in the UK.
Concerns we cannot help with
There are other concerns that we may not be best placed to deal with, for example we cannot mediate in practice disputes. In those instances, it may be useful for you to seek advice from your professional association.
If you are reluctant to report a concern because, for example, you fear that raising your concern may cause problems for yourself or colleagues, it is worth bearing the following in mind:
- You have a duty to put patients’ interests first and act to protect them, which overrides personal and professional loyalties
- The law provides legal protection against victimisation or dismissal for individuals who reveal information to raise genuine concerns and expose malpractice in the workplace
- You do not need to wait for proof – you will be able to justify raising a concern if you do so honestly, on the basis of reasonable belief and through appropriate channels, even if you are mistaken.
Raising a concern with the General Chiropractic Council
If you decide that you do wish to raise a concern, click here for more information before continuing to the online complaint form.
What happens afterwards?
If you do raise a concern with us about a fellow chiropractor, we expect you to co-operate fully with the investigation.
This usually means that the chiropractor will become aware that you have raised a concern with us. If you have concerns about this, please make us aware when you submit your form, detailing the reasons why.
Our investigations process is standardised in line with our legal obligations. Click here to find out how it works.
