The April 20, 1998 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic (p. 18) contained a paid advertisement from the Independent Chiropractic Examiners Society (ICES). The ad contained references to the New York State Education Department's Office of Professional Discipline and the New York State Board for Chiropractic.
Some of the officers and directors of ICES are current or past members of the New York State Board for Chiropractic. However, there is no relationship or interest between the two bodies, and no endorsement or official recognition of any kind given to ICES by the New York State Education Department or the New York State Board for Chiropractic.
The department had already been asked to review the ICES incorporation proposal and determined that no inherent conflict of interest existed for a member of the New York State Board for Chiropractic to hold an official position with ICES. It was noted that ICES is primarily an educational credentialing body, and historically, administrators and faculty members have served as members of many state boards for the professions.
State board members often serve in numerous capacities outside their public service appointments. To ensure the integrity of public service, the State Education Department endorsed a conflict of interest policy, which prohibits a current board member from serving as an officer or policymaker in a state or national professional membership organization. Moreover, should an apparent or actual conflict of interest arise in any matter for any board member -- for example, regarding a licensing examination or a professional misconduct proceeding -- then that board member would be obliged to recuse him or herself from that matter. If the frequency of such conflicts, either apparent or actual, were to rise to a level that compromises the member's ability to serve on the state board, then he or she would be asked to resign from the board.
The officers of ICES, in recognition of the State Education Department's above cited concern, have agreed to refrain from any references to the department or the state board in all future advertisements and ICES literature.
Norman G. Cohen, Executive Secretary
New York State Board for Chiropractic
