B.C. massage therapist suspended after non-consensual ‘whole chest massage’: CMTBC

A Vancouver-based Registered Massage Therapist has been suspended for a week after giving a woman a “whole chest massage” without consent, the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) says.

In a disciplinary action on July 28, the CMTBC found Hyeokcheon Kwon engaged in conduct that “contravened” the College’s Code of Ethics, College’s Standards of Practice of Boundaries, College’s Standard of Practice on Consent, and the College’s Bylaws.

In the disciplinary board’s ruling, the board found Kwon did not discuss massaging the patient’s whole chest during the initial interview portion of the treatment.

Kwon also admitted to massaging the patient’s breast tissue under the draping without asking for consent. The board also found that while the patient was laying face up during the appointment, the draping fell off, exposing the patient’s breasts to his view. Kwon admitted to continuing to massage the patient’s chest while her breasts her exposed, after which he then re-draped the patient.

The college says Kwon did not apologize for the draping slipping and did not check in with the patient or ask whether she wanted to end the session.

The college has now suspended Kwon for one week, and is requiring him to complete “extensive remedial education, including coursework on boundaries and consent and one-on-one instruction with a College Practice Advisor (who is also an RMT).”

Kwon is also required to post a notice in any treatment room in which he practices a sign that he “may not treat or otherwise touch the area located on the front side of the body between the clavicles (collarbones) and the 9th ribs.”

The college says it is now “satisfied” that the terms of the undertaking and agreement “will protect the public interest.”