B.C. traditional Chinese medicine practitioner banned from treating female patients after sexual misconduct allegation

FILE: A massage table is seen in this undated photo. (Shutterstock)

A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Surrey has been banned from treating female patients while the regulatory body for the profession investigates him for alleged misconduct.

The “extraordinary action” put in place by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C.—which also governs massage therapists, chiropractors and naturopaths—earlier this week placed limits on Sung Hyun La’s registration after a patient made a complaint.

Specifically, she alleged that “during the provision of treatment to the patient, the registrant engaged in sexual misconduct and conducted himself in a manner that demonstrated a lack of professional judgement and respect for boundaries,” according to a public notice.

“The inquiry committee panel considered the allegations serious and found that there are some factors that render the alleged conduct likely to recur,” the college wrote. “Therefore, the panel determined that the public must be protected by an interim order during the investigation, pending any disciplinary hearing.”

Those conditions include prohibiting La from treating female patients and requiring him to post a statement on his online booking pages and in his treatment rooms about the order. The practitioner must also give the college a list of each patient he treats and will be subject to random on-site audits.

“The inquiry committee panel concluded that the above-described limits and conditions are proportionate and sufficient to protect the public during the investigation or pending a discipline hearing,” the notice reads.