Board finds chiropractor guilty of unprofessional conduct
A Las Vegas chiropractor can continue to practice, but will have to toe the line for the next 41/2 years after receiving professional discipline Saturday for a 2005 altercation in which a 60-year-old man suffered fatal injuries.
The Chiropractic Physicians Board of Nevada found Stephen B. Shaw, 38, guilty of unprofessional conduct for leaving Fabulous Freddy’s Car Wash on March 11, 2005, after he shoved Lawrence Weiss. The shove caused the retired record company executive to fall, hit his head on a rack of propane tanks and suffer fatal head injuries.
“That is in direct violation of his chiropractors license, which is to relieve people of human suffering,” said Elizabeth Foley, the prosecuting attorney.
Shaw pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in March in connection with Weiss’ death and received five years probation.
The board revoked Shaw’s license but stayed that revocation for 41/2 years, the length of time remaining on the chiropractor’s felony probation.
The chiropractic board also ruled that Shaw must undergo psychological testing within six months, take an anger management course, national chiropractic law and ethics tests and complete 500 hours of board-approved community service within a year.
Shaw was fined $10,000 for violating state law and must pay board costs for the hearings and investigation into his case.
A board-appointed officer will track Shaw’s compliance with the penalties and conditions handed out by the board. Should Shaw not comply or violate his probation, his license would be up for revocation, the board said.
Weiss’ relatives appeared frustrated during and after the hearing. Most could be seen wiping away tears.
“This board is supposed to let the public know that chiropractors are held to higher standards,” said Linda Edwards, Weiss’ sister, who filed the chiropractic board complaint against Shaw.
“This man blew up and lost control and someone is dead because of it. He could do it again.”
Edwards, of Ketchum, Idaho, said Shaw’s actions in the incident are contrary to what health care providers should do.
Shaw’s attorney, John Hunt, said he too was disappointed by the board’s decision, but for different reasons.
“We think their conclusion is unjust because the criminal justice system had already spoken,” Hunt said. “This was not a fair decision.”
Saturday’s hearing, which lasted almost six hours, was the second in two weeks. The board heard nearly 10 hours of testimony on Nov. 30 about the complaint against Shaw.
According to the complaint, which sought the revocation of Shaw’s license, disciplinary action was warranted because of unprofessional conduct.
Shaw testified at the earlier hearing and on Saturday that he went to Fabulous Freddy’s at Fort Apache Road and Charleston Boulevard after receiving a call from his wife, Raquel, who told him a man had attacked her as she sat in her vehicle with the couple’s two daughters.
Witnesses told police that Weiss believed Raquel Shaw had cut him off in her vehicle before entering Fabulous Freddy’s and that the two had exchanged words.
Shaw testified that he left the scene not realizing Weiss had suffered life-threatening injuries.
In hindsight, the chiropractor testified Saturday, he “probably should have called 911” instead of taking matters into his own hands. “There’s not a day that goes by that you don’t think about it. It is nothing short of a tragedy,” he said.
Shaw said his practice has suffered since the incident. Some patients have left and his relationships with some insurance companies and attorneys that had referred patients to him have been lost.
“It’s tough to be somebody’s doctor when you break down and cry in front of them. You do lose their trust,” he said. “I’ve lost some patients.”
Shaw’s plea required only that he admit prosecutors could prove their case against him. Despite a probation officer’s report recommending a prison term of 12 to 30 months, District Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Shaw to five years of probation.
Shaw, who has been licensed as a chiropractor in Nevada since 1997, had no other disciplinary actions on his record.
Contact reporter Annette Wells at awells @reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0283.
