Is sexual contact with a patient permissible for a licensed chiropractor in Texas?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only with patient consent and a written agreement
• D. Only if the patient is a family member

Answer: (B)

Professional boundaries and patient safety guide this rule: sexual contact with a patient is never permissible for a licensed chiropractor in Texas. The professional–patient relationship creates a power imbalance and vulnerability that makes sexual interaction exploitative, and consent does not make it acceptable. Texas rules and professional ethics prohibit this conduct, and engaging in it can lead to disciplinary action by the Board and possible criminal charges. No circumstance within the patient relationship justifies it, and even relationships with family members aren’t allowed while the patient is in care.