What to expect after a complaint is filed

Upon receipt of a formal complaint, in writing, on a fully completed complaint form, the Registrar will initially review the complaint as outlined in the Regulated Health Professions Act. The complaint may be resolved at this level.

If further steps are needed, they will forward all information to the Complaints Committee. This committee is made up of both public members and registrants with professional expertise. This helps ensure a fair and balanced approach when reviewing complaints.

As part of this process, you will be notified of who is assigned to the Complaints Committee to assist with your complaint. Both you and the Committee members are asked to declare if there is a conflict of interest with either the complainant or the chiropractor.

The Complaints Committee will collect and consider all information. You cannot be sued for what you state in a complaint, as long as it has been directed only to the Registrar of the NSCNR. 

Complaints may be either resolved at this level or forwarded according to Professional Conduct or Fitness-to-Practice processes for further consideration.

The investigation and discipline process of the NSCNR is not a court of law. In filing a complaint, you are asking the NSCNR to investigate the care and/or professional behavior provided by a Chiropractor or Naturopathic doctor. The NSCNR cannot find a registrant guilty of negligence or order the chiropractor to pay you financial compensation. The NSCNR does not investigate criminal charges. Please contact the appropriate law enforcement agency if that is more appropriate for your complaint.

Disciplinary findings can result in penalties like cautionary warnings,  remedial education or removal of license privileges. Findings that impact the status of a registrant’s license are published in the License Verification Register on this website.