Opinion No. (2001)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General ANTHONY S. DA VIGO Deputy Attorney General THE BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS has requested an opinion on the following question: Does Business and Professions Code section 650 prohibit chiropractors from participating in an Internet marketing plan in which they agree to promote the naturopathic products of an Internet company and to refer their patients to the company's website in exchange for fees equaling 20 percent of the price of the products purchased by their patients from the company? CONCLUSION Business and Professions Code section 650 prohibits chiropractors from participating in an Internet marketing plan in which they agree to promote the naturopathic products of an Internet company and to refer their patients to the company's website in exchange for fees equaling 20 percent of the price of the products purchased by their patients from the company. ANALYSIS We are advised that an Internet distributor of naturopathic products proposes to enter into agreements with chiropractors in this state whereby the chiropractors would receive fees of 20 percent of the price of the products purchased by their patients from the company's website. We are…