Vitale & Singer Condemn Chiropractor Board for Relicensing Sex Offender

Trenton – Senator Joe Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, and Senator Robert Singer, the ranking Republican member of the committee, issued the following joint statement condemning the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for renewing the professional license of Bryan Bajakian, a convicted sex offender:

“It is utterly inconceivable that the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners would think it a good idea to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender who preyed on children. The board’s decision defies common sense and fails to meet the basic standard of public safety. Bryan Bajakian is a predator who should not be placed in a position of trust with patients in a healthcare setting and should not be allowed to threaten anyone again.

“The Attorney General took the right action in ‘staying’ the decision so Mr. Bajakian can’t immediately resume practicing. But, in the end, he is powerless to deny the license renewal. That responsibility rests with the chiropractic board.

“If the board can’t be trusted to make responsible licensing decisions that protect the safety of New Jerseyans, the Legislature will have to look at reforms to the board itself. We will consider restructuring the board to include more public members who have the public’s interests at heart and fewer self-interested members from the chiropractic industry. We would also look for reforms that bring more public transparency and administrative oversight so the board is more accountable for its actions.

“We can’t allow this decision to stand and we should not allow this to happen again.”