Vitale & Singer Harshly Condemn Chiropractor Board for Reinstating License of 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 harshly condemning the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners for reinstating the professional license of Bryan Bajakian, a convicted sex offender:

“This is a decision that defies common sense and ignores the safety of the public the board is responsible for protecting. Anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to reinstate the license of a convicted sex offender who preyed on children can’t be trusted to exercise their oversight responsibilities, or to even to heed their own mission statement directing the board to ‘protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey.’

“Bryan Bajakian is a predator who should not be placed in a position of trust with patients in healthcare settings that make them vulnerable, especially children. Denying him a license should be automatic, as it is in other states.

“The Attorney General took the right action in trying to prevent the board from allowing Bajakian to resume practicing but, even he, the top law enforcement official in the state, was left powerless to deny the license renewal.

“Poor decisions have consequences. If this 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.”