B.C. massage therapist admits to exposing, massaging patients' chests without consent
A B.C. massage therapist's registration is being cancelled for at least five years after he admitted to professional misconduct against multiple patients, which included exposing their chests without consent.
According to a consent agreement posted by the College of Massage Therapists of B.C. earlier this month, Dennis Desrochers won't be permitted to reapply for registration in the profession until May 2027.
Desrochers admitted to several acts of misconduct against seven patients between 2011 and 2018.
In many of the instances, Desrochers undraped patients to their waist, exposing their breasts without consent and when it wasn't necessary. For some patients, that happened on "five or more occasions," the consent agreement said.
Desrochers also admitted to massaging some patients' chests "without ensuring that the patient was fully informed regarding treatment, which is a requirement for obtaining the patient’s full informed consent to treatment."
He also talked to some patients about their breast size and his experiences receiving a massage, which the college called "unprofessional communication."
On two other occasions in that seven-year timeframe, Desrochers used "his hands to examine a patient’s breasts for indications of cancer when doing so was outside the scope of practice of massage therapy in British Columbia."
Even if Desrochers applies to have his registration reinstated, the college said it won't be automatic, but will need to be reviewed by the registration committee.
"The inquiry committee considered Mr. Desrochers' admitted conduct to be serious," the agreement said.
"The inquiry committee is satisfied that the consent order in this matter appropriately reflects the seriousness of the admitted conduct and will protect patient safety through cancellation of Mr. Desrochers’ registration, meaning that Mr. Desrochers will no longer be authorized to practice as a registered massage therapist in B.C."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.