The Washington State Department of Health's Chiropractic Commission has charged a Bellingham chiropractor with unprofessional conduct after his office reportedly violated gubernatorial COVID-19 proclamations requiring masking and proper signage.
Michael John Motel, who is the owner and operator of Ascend Chiropractic, was charged Aug. 29, according to a Department of Health release Wednesday, Oct. 5.
According to the statement of charges, the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission received a complaint on Sept. 2, 2021, that Ascend Chiropractic did not require face masks. On Sept. 22, 2021, Motel and an employee at the practice both signed a Washington Gubernatorial Proclamation 21-14 COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Compliance Form, checking the box for religious exemption for themselves, according to the charges.
A week later, a Department of Health investigator visited the Ascend office and noted a staff member sitting behind the front desk without a mask, according to the statement. Motel, who also reportedly was not wearing a mask, then walked out of what appeared to be a treatment room with a patient.
The investigator also saw no posted signage encouraging staff, visitors and patients to practice proper hand hygiene, avoid touching their faces or practice cough etiquette, according to the charges.
Motel will have a chance to defend himself against the charges, according to the statement, which added that if he failed to do so, he would be subject to discipline.
"Dr. Motel is working with the Department of Health and the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission to resolve this matter. Because that work is ongoing, we have no additional comment at this time," attorney Ann E. Trivett, who is representing Motel, told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
According to RCW 18.130.180, unprofessional conduct includes "violation of any state or federal statute or administrative rule regulating the profession in question, including any statute or rule defining or establishing standards or patient care or professional conduct or practice." Proclamations 20-24.1, 20-24.2 and 20-25.7 and Order of the Secretary of Health Amending Order 20-03 laid out what was expected of health professionals and practices at the time, according to the statement of charges.
