Nanaimo massage therapist banned from treating female patients

A woman receives a massage in this file photo. (Getty Images)

A registered massage therapist in Nanaimo has been banned from treating female patients while the profession’s regulatory college investigates misconduct allegations against him.

The College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. did not share much information about the allegations against Douglas Kropp in its reasons for issuing a summary protection order against him, which were published online Monday.

According to the document, the college received a complaint about Kropp on March 19, “which included allegations of sexual abuse.”

No other details of the alleged misconduct are included in the document, and the allegations have not been proven. Rather, the summary protection order is intended to protect the public while an investigation into Kropp’s alleged misconduct is ongoing.

“The (investigation committee) panel applied the applicable statutory test and, without deciding the merits of the allegation, was satisfied there are reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent’s continued, unrestricted practice poses a significant risk of harm to the public,” the document reads.

Under the summary protection order, Kropp “may not treat patients who identify as female,” and must publish notices about this restriction on online booking pages, in clinics and in treatment rooms where he offers his services.

Kropp is also required to share with the college the names and contact information of all patients he treats, providing updates on a weekly basis.

“The panel determined that a gender-based restriction on the respondent’s practice authority is a necessary and proportionate measure to safeguard patient safety while the matter is investigated,” the document reads.

“In doing so, the panel considered the seriousness of the alleged conduct, its direct nexus to clinical practice, the potential for recurrence, and the absence of other measures capable of mitigating the identified risk.”