If the Professional Conduct Committee decides that the allegations of ‘unacceptable professional conduct’ or ‘professional incompetence’ have been proven, the Committee must impose a sanction. The purpose of a sanction is not to punish the chiropractor but to protect the public. There are different types of sanctions that may be applied.
When deciding on the most proportionate sanction, the Committee takes account of the GCC’s Guidance for Decision Makers: Sanctions, which makes sure all decisions are fair, consistent and sufficient to protect the public.
The current sanctions guidance came into effect on 1 November 2026 following a consultation.
The sanctions available to the Professional Conduct Committee include:
- Issue a formal warning that remains on file
- Place a restriction, or conditions, on the chiropractor’s registration (for example, that the chiropractor works under supervision or has further training)
- Suspend the chiropractor’s registration
- Remove the chiropractor’s name from the register.
The Health Committee can place conditions on a chiropractor’s registration or suspend it.
